aeon

[ ee-uhn, ee-on ]

noun

1. Also Ae·on. (in Gnosticism) one of a class of powers or beings conceived as emanating from the Supreme Being and performing various functions in the operations of the universe.
2. eon.

aeon

/ ˈiːɒn; ˈiːən /

noun

1. an immeasurably long period of time; age
2. a period of one thousand million years
3. often capital gnosticism one of the powers emanating from the supreme being and culminating in the demiurge

Word History and Origins

Origin of aeon¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin, from Greek aiṓn “age, long period of time, eternity”

Word History and Origins

Origin of aeon¹

C17: from Greek aiōn an infinitely long time

Example Sentences

In a January piece in Aeon Magazine, science writer Philip Ball identifies the dangers of “instrument-worship” among scientists.

From The Daily Beast

After what seemed an aeon, they saw that it was daylight outside.

From Project Gutenberg

Don't you remember what happened to the passengers of the Aeon, when that steamer was wrecked on Christmas Island?

From Project Gutenberg

The Mesozoic time certainly terminated with the Cretaceous, and what follows belongs to a distinct aeon.

From Project Gutenberg

He himself hopes along with his followers to live to see the decisive turn of things, the dawn of the new and better aeon.

From Project Gutenberg

Given such a culture-hero, the common herd was capable of carrying on more or less mechanically for an aeon or so.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• age
• course
• cycle
• date
• duration
• era
• season
• span
• stage
• stretch
• term
• time