perpetuum mobile
See also: Perpetuum mobile and perpetuüm mobile
English
Etymology
From Latin perpetuum (neutral inflection of perpetuus “perpetual”) + Latin mōbile (neutrum of mōbilis “mobile, moving”), used together as a noun, thus literally meaning “perpetual mover”. Although often said to literally mean “perpetual motion”, the latter in Latin is mōtus perpetuus. A perpetuum mobile is a device that exhibits perpetual motion.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /pəːˌpɛtjʊəm ˈməʊbɪleɪ/, /pəːˌpɛtjʊəm ˈməʊbɪli/
Noun
perpetuum mobile
- A perpetual motion machine.
- (musicology) Pieces of music, or parts of pieces, characterised by a continuous steady stream of notes, usually at a rapid tempo.
- (musicology) Whole pieces, or large parts of pieces, which are to be played repeatedly, often an indefinite number of times.
Czech
Noun
perpetuum mobile n
- perpetual motion machine
Danish
Noun
perpetuum mobile
- perpetual motion machine
- 2006, Manual til dansk samtidskunst, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:
- Samtidig fanger værket to flygtige størrelser som vind og lys, der produceres med et ensartet, genkommende luftpres som en perpetuum mobile, en evighedsmaskine, drevet frem af elektriciteten.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 2011, Jonas Bruun, Drivjagt, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:
- Idealet var umuligt og derfor ideelt. Jeg ville forsøge at skabe en perpetuum mobile. En evighedsmaskine af organisk væv.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 2013, Kjell Ola Dahl, Kvinden i plastic, Modtryk, →ISBN:
- »Det nærmeste menneskeheden er kommet på en perpetuum mobile, Frølich. Et ur, som ligner et almindeligt kaminur, men som er noget heltandet.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 2017, Ole Thyssen, Wilhelm Reich: 1927-1939: Mellem Freud og Marx, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:
- ... noget i retning af en perpetuum mobile, hvor forbrugt energi stadig er til rådighed.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 1996, Lars Handesten, Alligevel så elsker vi byen: tolv kapitler af Københavns litteraturhistorie, →ISBN:
- Den ligner en perpetuum mobile, en evighedsmaskine, ...
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 2008, Niels Lund, Stålbandagen: roman, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN, page 84:
- ... men det forhindrede ham ikke i at opfinde flere perpetuum mobiler, der kørte ved hjælp af magneter.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
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- (figuratively) something or someone in constant activity
- 2006, Søren Schou, Dansk litteraturs historie: 1920-1960, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN, page 574:
- Frem til slutningen, hvor brudeparret siger ja til at blive begravet i hinanden, er bogen en perpetuum mobile til frembringelse af sorte og groteske stemninger.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 2015, Anne Holt, Blind gudinde, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:
- Fængselspsykiatrien var en perpetuum mobile, frem og tilbage, frem og tilbage.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
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Synonyms
- evighedsmaskine
Dutch
Etymology
From Latin perpetuum (neutral inflection of perpetuus 'perpetual') + Latin mobile (neutrum of mobilis 'mobile, moving', used as a noun).
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Noun
perpetuum mobile n (plural perpetuum mobiles, diminutive pepetuum mobileetje n)
- A perpetual motion machine (hypothetical contraption capable of remaining in perpetual motion without needing any additional energy ever)
- (figuratively) Something impossible, a figment of one's imagination
Polish
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from Latin perpetuum mōbile.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pɛrˈpɛ.tu.um ˈmɔ.bi.lɛ/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -ilɛ
Noun
perpetuum mobile n (indeclinable)
- (physics) perpetual motion machine (hypothetical contraption capable of remaining in perpetual motion without needing any additional energy ever)
- (music) perpetuum mobile (whole pieces, or large parts of pieces, which are to be played repeatedly, often an indefinite number of times)
Further reading
- perpetuum mobile in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- perpetuum mobile in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Romanian
Noun
perpetuum mobile n (plural perpetuum mobile)
- perpetual motion machine