world without end

English

Etymology

A loose translation of in saeculum saeculi (“into an age of an age”) and in saecula saeculorum (“into ages of ages”), Latin formulas meaning “for ever and ever”; the latter appears prominently in Christian liturgy, being the last line of the Lesser Doxology. In the English counterpart world without end, world carries the archaic sense “age”. The phrase is attested from the Old English period onwards and appears in both the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible.

Adverb

world without end

1. For all time.
   • 1611, King James Bible:

     Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end.

   • 1662, Book of Common Prayer:

     As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

   • 1999, Stephin Merritt, 69 Love Songs:

     And life goes on and on anon, and death goes on, world without end.

   • 2012, 20.51 of Episode 11, Season 3 of TV drama Justified:

     Not a day passes when federal boots aren't on the ground in Noble's Holler, churning up every acre, and then going over it again, world without end, until I get I what I want.

Synonyms

• for ever and ever
• unto the ages of ages