3. Endless time. "And yet we should, for perpetuity, go hence in debt."
Shak.
4. (Annuities) (a) The number of years in which the simple interest of
any sum becomes equal to the principal. (b) The number of years'
purchase to be given for an annuity to continue forever. (c) A
perpetual annuity.
5. (Law) (a) Duration without limitations as to time. (b) The quality
or condition of an estate by which it becomes inalienable, either
perpetually or for a very long period; also, the estate itself so
modified or perpetuated.
Per*plex" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perplexed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Perplexing.] [L. perplexari. See Perplex, a.] 1. To involve; to
entangle; to make intricate or complicated, and difficult to be
unraveled or understood; as, to perplex one with doubts.
No artful wildness to perplex the scene.
Pope.
What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak
parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.
Locke.
2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to confuse; to
trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety. "Perplexd beyond
self-explication." Shak.
We are perplexed, but not in despair.