Make (something, typically an undesirable situation or an unfounded belief) continue indefinitely.

• ‘The book contains unsubstantiated statements perpetuating old myths and creating confusion.’
• ‘Indeed inheritance under the current system only serves to perpetuate inequality.’

Change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but significant way:

• [with object] ‘Eliot was persuaded to alter the passage’
• [no object] ‘our outward appearance alters as we get older’