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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Perpetuate: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：cause to continue (negative) (perpetuate)

perpetuate 🔊

/pərˈpetʃueɪt/

vt.

to make a bad situation, habit, or problem continue for a long time.

Perpetuate negative cycle illustrated by a stressed student in a loop of procrastination.

cause to continue (negative) 🔊

➕

/kɔːz tə kənˈtɪnjuː ˈneɡətɪv/

vt.

To cause a negative situation, a bad habit, or a problematic condition to persist or last for a long time, often unintentionally.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'perpetuus' (continuous) + '-ate' (verb suffix).

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'per-PET-uate'. To keep a PET, you must provide CONTINUOUS care, making its life last.

📖 Example

If we don't address the misunderstanding now, we will only perpetuate the conflict between the two departments. 🔊 If we don't address the misunderstanding now, we will only cause the conflict between the two departments to continue.

🔗 Collocations

perpetuate a myth – to cause a false belief to continue

perpetuate inequality – to cause unfair differences to persist

perpetuate a cycle – to cause a repeating pattern to continue

🔄 Synonyms

prolong (vt.) – to extend the duration of something, often something undesirable

sustain (vt.) – to maintain or keep something going over time

protract (vt.) – to draw out or lengthen in time, often unnecessarily

🚫 Antonyms

end (v.) – to bring something to a conclusion or stop

resolve (vt.) – to find a solution to and effectively terminate a problem

halt (v.) – to bring to an abrupt stop

🌱 Derivatives

perpetuation (n.) – the act of causing something to continue indefinitely

perpetual (adj.) – never ending or changing

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'perpetuare', meaning 'to make perpetual', related to 'perpetuus' (uninterrupted, continuous). It entered English in the 16th century, often used in legal and social discourse about making something last indefinitely.

Meaning 2：pass down (perpetuate)

perpetuate 🔊

/pərˈpetʃueɪt/

vt.

to make a tradition, culture, or memory continue from one generation to the next.

Perpetuate tradition scene showing elder passing down family cooking skills to child.

pass down 🔊

➕

/pɑːs daʊn/

vt.

To cause a positive tradition, cultural practice, value, or memory to continue from one generation to the next, ensuring its survival.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The community holds annual festivals to perpetuate the stories and customs of their ancestors. 🔊 The community holds annual festivals to pass down the stories and customs of their ancestors.

🔗 Collocations

perpetuate a tradition – to ensure a custom continues over time

perpetuate a legacy – to cause someone's work or memory to endure

perpetuate knowledge – to transmit and maintain information across generations

🔄 Synonyms

preserve (vt.) – to maintain something in its original or existing state

uphold (vt.) – to maintain or support a tradition or principle

sustain (vt.) – to strengthen, support, and maintain over time

🚫 Antonyms

abandon (vt.) – to give up completely a practice or tradition

discontinue (v.) – to cease doing or providing something

🌱 Derivatives

perpetuation (n.) – the continuation or preservation of something

perpetual (adj.) – lasting forever or for a very long time