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perpetua

life sentence (abbrev. for cadena perpetua)

noun pehr-PEH-twah Rare
People & Society Law

Also means

everlasting (flower, botany)

Usage Note

Perpetua most commonly appears as a shortened form of cadena perpetua (life imprisonment) in journalistic and legal contexts — lo condenaron a perpetua means he was sentenced to life. In botany, perpetua (or siempreviva) refers to everlasting flowers whose petals do not wilt. The adjective perpetuo/perpetua ('perpetual') is a distinct but related word.

Examples

"El juez le impuso la perpetua."

Natural Translation

The judge imposed a life sentence on him.

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