Era

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɪə.ɹə/

Definitions

1. A distinct period in history characterized by particular events, developments, or conditions
2. A time span in history marked by notable occurrences, developments, or cultural characteristics
3. A significant phase in human history that is defined by specific events, developments, or trends

Etymology: The word "era" comes from Medieval Latin "aera", which was used for a fixed starting point from which years were counted. Its most famous early use was in the chronology of the Spanish kingdoms, where the "Spanish era" began in 38 BC, counting from a Roman tax reckoning rather than from the birth of Christ. The Latin plural "aerae" was the form that scholars and chroniclers relied on to date events, which is why the word first meant a reckoning point rather than a stretch of time. Over the following centuries the sense widened. A starting point for counting became the span of years that followed it, and from there "era" came to mean any extended period marked by shared characteristics, such as "the Victorian era" or "the Jazz Age." The word entered English in the 17th century, and its meaning moved steadily from the calendar to the broader idea of history itself.

Synonyms: age, period, epoch, time, season