beginningless

English

Etymology

From beginning +‎ -less.

Adjective

beginningless (not comparable)

1. Incomplete for lack of a beginning.
   • 1829 February, Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths, “Article XIII”, in The Monthly Review, volume 10, page 305:

     But besides this imperfect beginningless story, entitled "William Montgomery," we find in the volume another, of which the title-page gives no hint.

2. Eternal; uncreated; having always existed.
   • 1980, Rajneesh, Osho, Yoga Vivek, Prem Chinmaya, Ananda Prem, The Supreme Doctrine: Discourses on the Kenopanishad:

     Backwards, it spreads to the beginningless beginning. Forwards, it spreads to the endless end. We are always in the middle.

   • 2004, David Michie, Buddhism for Busy People:

     Beginningless time is one of those concepts which, in our human state, we find difficult to comprehend.

Synonyms

• (having always existed): See also Thesaurus:beginningless

Derived terms

• beginninglessness