Pĕr'ma-nent, a.

a. [Lat. permanens, p. pr. of permanere, to stay or remain to the end, to last, from prefix per, through, and manere, to remain; Fr. permanent, Pr. permanen, Sp., Pg., & It. permanente.] Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; lasting; continuing.

Permanent way, the road-bed and superstructure of a railway; — originally so called in England, as being the company's finished road, in distinction from the contractor's temporary way.

Synonyms— Lasting; durable. See LASTING.