coeval
Americanadjective
-
of the same age, date, or duration; equally old.
Analysis has proved that this manuscript is coeval with that one.
-
Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were only approximately coeval.
noun
adjective
noun
Synonym Usage
See contemporary.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of coeval
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin coaev(us) (equivalent to co- “with, together” + -aevus, adjective derivative of aevum “age”) + -al adjective suffix; see co-, -al 1
Explanation
When two things live or happen during the same period of time, they are coeval. If you annotate an old poem, the annotations and the text of the poem are not coeval. The word coeval comes from the Latin co- "jointly" or "in common" and aevum "age." The beginning of Major League Baseball is coeval with the invention of the telephone. People can be coeval, though more often you'll hear contemporary used to describe people who are about the same age. You and your contemporaries probably view the world a lot differently than your grandparents' generation.
Vocabulary lists containing coeval
Ides, Eon, Epoch, and Era: Time-related Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Declaration of Sentiments" (1848)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Tolkien Reading Day, List 10
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Coeval with the decline of the power of the latter was that of the Hittites.
From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 11 — Ancient and Mediæval History by Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir
But, since he younger is, and with myself Coeval, first I give the cup to thee.
From The Odyssey of Homer by Cowper, William
All tenants of an ancient place And heirs of noble heritage, Coeval they with Adam's race And blest with more substantial age.
From Poems Chiefly from Manuscript by Clare, John
Coeval with Holcroft, Robert Bage, a Tamworth Quaker, not having the fear of George Fox nor the Attorney General before his eyes, published some good political novels.
From Sketches of Reforms and Reformers, of Great Britain and Ireland by Stanton, Henry B.
Coeval with the commonwealth itself, the starry roll of its heroes links it with all the fortunes of our history.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 71, September, 1863 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
