from/since time immemorial

from time immemorial

A time long before one would be able to remember; since the distant past. Our family line has presided over this land from time immemorial. Giant sea turtles have been coming to this spot to mate from time immemorial. This festival has been happening from time immemorial. The town was founded in the 1800s, so it must have started sometime back then.

See also: immemorial, time

since time immemorial

From a time long before one would be able to remember; since the distant past. Our family line has presided over this land since time immemorial. Giant sea turtles have been coming to this spot to mate since time immemorial.

See also: immemorial, since, time

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

since time immemorial

since a very long time ago. (Literally, since time before recorded history.) My hometown has had a big parade on the Fourth of July since time immemorial. since time immemorial, the trees have blossomed each spring.

See also: immemorial, since, time

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

since time immemorial

or

from time immemorial

LITERARY

If you say that something has been happening since time immemorial or from time immemorial, you mean that it has been happening for many centuries. Thailand's central position in Southeast Asia has had a major effect on the art of the area since time immemorial. From time immemorial, we have danced to celebrate the sacred forces of Nature.

See also: immemorial, since, time

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

from/since ˌtime immeˈmorial

from ancient times; from a very long time ago: The Barton family have lived in this village since time immemorial.

See also: immemorial, since, time

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

from time immemorial

Since ancient times; prior to anyone’s recall. According to Ebenezer Brewer, this term comes from English law, where it meant beyond legal memory—that is, before the reign of Richard I (1189– 99), fixed by the Statute of Westminster (1275) as the legal limit for bringing certain kinds of legal action (similar to the present-day statute of limitations). Later it came to mean simply a very long time ago. Thus Oliver Goldsmith wrote (The Bee, 1759), “This deformity . . . it had been the custom, time immemorial, to look upon as the greatest ornament of the human visage.” Exactly the same is meant by time out of mind, which dates from the fifteenth century, when it appeared in print in Rolls of Parliament. Both terms have been clichés since about 1800. See also since the beginning of time.

See also: immemorial, time

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer