Epoch

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈiːpɒk/

Definitions

1. A distinct period of time in history or geology marked by particular events, characteristics, or conditions that set it apart from surrounding periods
2. A segment of recorded time distinguished by notable occurrences or defining features that separate it from adjacent historical or geological intervals
3. A span of years characterized by significant events or unique conditions that establish its identity as a separate chapter in history or Earth's development

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "epoch" is that it began as an astronomical term about a star standing still. In ancient Greek, "epokhē" was built from "epi-" ("upon") and "ekhein" ("to hold"), so it meant a check or a pause. Astronomers used it for the point at which a star seemed to halt after reaching its highest position in its apparent motion, and from there it came to mean a fixed point from which time is measured. The Greek word moved into Medieval Latin as "epocha," and the sense shifted from a single stopping point to a stretch of time that is marked off by a notable event or a shared starting point. The English word, borrowed from that Latin form, carries this idea of a distinct, defined period in history. "Epoch" is a doublet of "epoch" in the form "epoche," meaning that the two words descend from the same Greek source but entered English by different routes, one by a learned path and one through a different development.

Synonyms: era, age, period, time, stage