time immemorial

Time immemorial — is a phrase meaning time extending beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition. The implication is that the subject referred to is, or can be regarded as, indefinitely ancient. The phrase is one of the few cases in the English Language where …   Wikipedia

Time immemorial — Immemorial Im me*mo ri*al, a. [Pref. im not + memorial: cf. F. imm[ e]morial.] Extending beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition; indefinitely ancient; as, existing from time immemorial. Immemorial elms. Tennyson. Immemorial usage or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Time immemorial — Time Time, n.; pl. {Times}. [OE. time, AS. t[=i]ma, akin to t[=i]d time, and to Icel. t[=i]mi, Dan. time an hour, Sw. timme. [root]58. See {Tide}, n.] 1. Duration, considered independently of any system of measurement or any employment of terms… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

time immemorial — ► time immemorial a point of time in the distant past beyond recall or knowledge. Main Entry: ↑time …   English terms dictionary

time immemorial — n. 1. time so long past as to be vague 2. Eng. Law beyond legal memory, fixed by statute as prior to 1189, the beginning of the reign of Richard I …   English World dictionary

time immemorial — 1189. See acquisitive prescription. Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001 …   Law dictionary

time immemorial — noun the distant past beyond memory • Syn: ↑time out of mind • Hypernyms: ↑past, ↑past times, ↑yesteryear * * * noun 1. a. : a time beyond legal m …   Useful english dictionary

time immemorial — 1. Also called time out of mind. time in the distant past beyond memory or record: Those carvings have been there from time immemorial. 2. Law. time beyond legal memory, fixed by statute in England as prior to the beginning of the reign of… …   Universalium

time immemorial — time′ immemo′rial n. time in the distant past …   From formal English to slang

time immemorial — noun Date: 1602 1. a time antedating a period legally fixed as the basis for a custom or right 2. time so long past as to be indefinite in history or tradition called also time out of mind …   New Collegiate Dictionary

time immemorial — /ˌtaɪm ɪməˈmɔriəl/ (say .tuym imuh mawreeuhl) noun 1. Also, time out of mind. a time extending back beyond memory or record. 2. Law time beyond legal memory, fixed by English statute as prior to the beginning of the reign of Richard I (1189) …   Australian English dictionary