Term for immortality that only applies to old age












1















Is there a term for immortality that only applies to old age? For example, the elves from LOTR are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal.



Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity?










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  • Are you asking if there's a word specific to LOTR or if there's a word in the English language that describes this?

    – Valorum
    5 hours ago













  • Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.

    – Jenayah
    5 hours ago











  • To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.

    – gowenfawr
    5 hours ago











  • Just dropping it as a comment because I don't feel like answering (so if anyone wants to snatch it, be my guest): everlasting?

    – Jenayah
    4 hours ago











  • @Jenayah - As expected, this question seems to be gathering low-quality ELU-type "single word" answer

    – Valorum
    4 hours ago
















1















Is there a term for immortality that only applies to old age? For example, the elves from LOTR are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal.



Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity?










share|improve this question























  • Are you asking if there's a word specific to LOTR or if there's a word in the English language that describes this?

    – Valorum
    5 hours ago













  • Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.

    – Jenayah
    5 hours ago











  • To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.

    – gowenfawr
    5 hours ago











  • Just dropping it as a comment because I don't feel like answering (so if anyone wants to snatch it, be my guest): everlasting?

    – Jenayah
    4 hours ago











  • @Jenayah - As expected, this question seems to be gathering low-quality ELU-type "single word" answer

    – Valorum
    4 hours ago














1












1








1








Is there a term for immortality that only applies to old age? For example, the elves from LOTR are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal.



Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity?










share|improve this question














Is there a term for immortality that only applies to old age? For example, the elves from LOTR are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal.



Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity?







the-lord-of-the-rings terminology immortality






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share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 6 hours ago









SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer

1224




1224













  • Are you asking if there's a word specific to LOTR or if there's a word in the English language that describes this?

    – Valorum
    5 hours ago













  • Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.

    – Jenayah
    5 hours ago











  • To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.

    – gowenfawr
    5 hours ago











  • Just dropping it as a comment because I don't feel like answering (so if anyone wants to snatch it, be my guest): everlasting?

    – Jenayah
    4 hours ago











  • @Jenayah - As expected, this question seems to be gathering low-quality ELU-type "single word" answer

    – Valorum
    4 hours ago



















  • Are you asking if there's a word specific to LOTR or if there's a word in the English language that describes this?

    – Valorum
    5 hours ago













  • Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.

    – Jenayah
    5 hours ago











  • To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.

    – gowenfawr
    5 hours ago











  • Just dropping it as a comment because I don't feel like answering (so if anyone wants to snatch it, be my guest): everlasting?

    – Jenayah
    4 hours ago











  • @Jenayah - As expected, this question seems to be gathering low-quality ELU-type "single word" answer

    – Valorum
    4 hours ago

















Are you asking if there's a word specific to LOTR or if there's a word in the English language that describes this?

– Valorum
5 hours ago







Are you asking if there's a word specific to LOTR or if there's a word in the English language that describes this?

– Valorum
5 hours ago















Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.

– Jenayah
5 hours ago





Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.

– Jenayah
5 hours ago













To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.

– gowenfawr
5 hours ago





To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.

– gowenfawr
5 hours ago













Just dropping it as a comment because I don't feel like answering (so if anyone wants to snatch it, be my guest): everlasting?

– Jenayah
4 hours ago





Just dropping it as a comment because I don't feel like answering (so if anyone wants to snatch it, be my guest): everlasting?

– Jenayah
4 hours ago













@Jenayah - As expected, this question seems to be gathering low-quality ELU-type "single word" answer

– Valorum
4 hours ago





@Jenayah - As expected, this question seems to be gathering low-quality ELU-type "single word" answer

– Valorum
4 hours ago










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















7














"ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older



Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)






share|improve this answer





















  • 1





    +1 for being the first/only answer to actually address LOTR

    – Valorum
    4 hours ago



















2














Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.




Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.




Biological immortality is the more extreme version.




Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.







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    1














    Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".






    share|improve this answer































      1














      Word




      Eternal




      Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.






      share|improve this answer































        1














        Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.



        It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.






        share|improve this answer

























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          5 Answers
          5






          active

          oldest

          votes








          5 Answers
          5






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          7














          "ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older



          Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)






          share|improve this answer





















          • 1





            +1 for being the first/only answer to actually address LOTR

            – Valorum
            4 hours ago
















          7














          "ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older



          Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)






          share|improve this answer





















          • 1





            +1 for being the first/only answer to actually address LOTR

            – Valorum
            4 hours ago














          7












          7








          7







          "ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older



          Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)






          share|improve this answer















          "ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older



          Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 4 hours ago

























          answered 4 hours ago









          Garret GangGarret Gang

          54037




          54037








          • 1





            +1 for being the first/only answer to actually address LOTR

            – Valorum
            4 hours ago














          • 1





            +1 for being the first/only answer to actually address LOTR

            – Valorum
            4 hours ago








          1




          1





          +1 for being the first/only answer to actually address LOTR

          – Valorum
          4 hours ago





          +1 for being the first/only answer to actually address LOTR

          – Valorum
          4 hours ago













          2














          Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.




          Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.




          Biological immortality is the more extreme version.




          Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.







          share|improve this answer




























            2














            Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.




            Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.




            Biological immortality is the more extreme version.




            Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.







            share|improve this answer


























              2












              2








              2







              Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.




              Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.




              Biological immortality is the more extreme version.




              Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.







              share|improve this answer













              Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.




              Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.




              Biological immortality is the more extreme version.




              Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.








              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 5 hours ago









              FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots

              92.2k12286440




              92.2k12286440























                  1














                  Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".






                  share|improve this answer




























                    1














                    Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".






                    share|improve this answer


























                      1












                      1








                      1







                      Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".






                      share|improve this answer













                      Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered 5 hours ago









                      David JohnstonDavid Johnston

                      1,191510




                      1,191510























                          1














                          Word




                          Eternal




                          Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.






                          share|improve this answer




























                            1














                            Word




                            Eternal




                            Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.






                            share|improve this answer


























                              1












                              1








                              1







                              Word




                              Eternal




                              Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.






                              share|improve this answer













                              Word




                              Eternal




                              Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered 4 hours ago









                              OniOni

                              1439




                              1439























                                  1














                                  Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.



                                  It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.






                                  share|improve this answer






























                                    1














                                    Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.



                                    It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.






                                    share|improve this answer




























                                      1












                                      1








                                      1







                                      Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.



                                      It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.






                                      share|improve this answer















                                      Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.



                                      It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.







                                      share|improve this answer














                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer








                                      edited 1 hour ago

























                                      answered 1 hour ago









                                      Misha RMisha R

                                      5,37923062




                                      5,37923062






























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