forever; eternally; for a long time
Literary or formal adverb meaning 'for a very long time' or 'eternally'. Often used in set phrases like 永々と続く (to continue forever).
This tradition has been passed down for a very long time.
His name will be told for generations to come.
Variant without iteration mark; less common but still used.
Reduplication of 永 (long, eternal) with the iteration mark 々, forming an adverb meaning 'for a very long time'.