era

¹

[eer-uh, er-uh]

noun

1. 1. a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc..

      The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.

   2. Slang.,  a period of time in a person’s life characterized by something distinctive and noticeable, such as a particular emotional state, relationship, achievement, or interest.

      She’s started wearing all black now that she’s in her sad girl era.

      They are definitely in their flop era and could use a complete makeover.

2. the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned.

   She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.

3. a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date.

   The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.

4. a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology.

   Caesar died many years before our era.

5. a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period.

   The year 1492 marks an era in world history.

6. Geology.,  a major division of geologic time composed of a number of periods.

ERA

²

abbreviation

1. Baseball.,  earned run average.

2. Emergency Relief Administration.

3. Equal Rights Amendment: proposed 27th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender.

era

¹

/ ˈɪərə /

noun

1. a period of time considered as being of a distinctive character; epoch

2. an extended period of time the years of which are numbered from a fixed point or event

   the Christian era

3. a point in time, esp one beginning a new or distinctive period

   the discovery of antibiotics marked an era in modern medicine

4. geology a major division of geological time, divided into several periods

   the Mesozoic era

ERA

²

/ ˈiːrə /

acronym

1. (in Britain) Education Reform Act: the 1988 act which established the key elements of the National Curriculum

2. (in the US) Equal Rights Amendment: a proposed amendment to the US Constitution enshrining equality between the sexes

era

1. A division of geologic time, longer than a period and shorter than an eon.

Word History and Origins

Origin of era¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin aera “fixed date, era, epoch (from which time is reckoned),” probably special use of Latin aera “counters,” plural of aes “piece of metal, money, brass”; akin to Gothic aiz, Old English ār ore, Sanskrit ayas “metal”

Word History and Origins

Origin of era¹

C17: from Latin aera counters, plural of aes brass, pieces of brass money

Synonym Study

See age.

Example Sentences

“That,” he wrote, “is the defining task of our era.”

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Despite high valuations, current tech winners are profitable, making the rally more fundamentally sound compared to the dot-com era.

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Pessimists recalled the last time New Yorkers swooned over a charismatic mayoral candidate who inspired the young and promised a new era: John Lindsay.

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We live today in an era where nobody is pressured to learn from the past.

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Of course, in an era of entrenched inequality, “you have to acknowledge privilege and luck” that helps many people achieve this milestone, said Trench, who is 35 and became financially independent in his late 20s.

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Related Words

• age 
• cycle 
• day 
• generation 
• stage 
• term 
• time