eternity
n. uncountablen. time that never ends. You can also use it to describe a very long time that feels like it will never finish.
n. infinite or unending time; in a theological or philosophical context, a state of existence outside of time. Often used hyperbolically to describe a duration that feels excessively long.
The wait for the bus felt like an eternity.
After the power went out, the few minutes spent searching for a flashlight felt like an eternity in the dark.
Philosophers have long debated whether eternity implies a linear progression of infinite moments or a singular state where past, present, and future exist simultaneously.
From Middle English eternyte, from Old French eternité, from Latin aeternitās. Displaced native Old English ēcnes.
Commonly used with the indefinite article ('an eternity') when referring to a subjective experience of time.