Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An indefinitely long period of time; an age.
  • noun The longest division of geologic time, containing two or more eras.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The largest divisionof geologic-time: used by J. D. Dana especially in dividing the archœan into astral and archæozoic eons.
  • noun A long space of time; a secular period, either indefinite or limited to the duration of something, as a dispensation or the universe: used as equivalent to age, era, or cycle, and sometimes to eternity.
  • noun In Platonic philosophy, a virtue, attribute, or perfection existing throughout eternity.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An immeasurable or infinite space of time; eternity; a long space of time; an age.
  • noun (Gnostic Philos.) One of the embodiments of the divine attributes of the Eternal Being.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun US Eternity.
  • noun A period of 1,000,000,000 years.
  • noun geology The longest time period used in geology.
  • noun US, informal, hyperbolic A long period of time.
  • noun Gnosticism A spirit being emanating from the Godhead.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (Gnosticism) a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe
  • noun the longest division of geological time
  • noun an immeasurably long period of time

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Late Latin aeōn, from Greek aiōn; see aiw- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek αἰών (aiōn, "age").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word eon.

Examples

  • They decide to use an unexplained Trait that the Medoras were given at the last Progression which is about equivalent to an "eon," or an "Age" for Robert Jordan fans to decide who would become a representative.

    Archive 2008-05-01 Tia Nevitt 2008

  • They decide to use an unexplained Trait that the Medoras were given at the last Progression which is about equivalent to an "eon," or an "Age" for Robert Jordan fans to decide who would become a representative.

    Review of Elom by William H. Drinkard Tia Nevitt 2008

  • I've been struggling, for many an eon now (and by 'eon', I mean 'cooking session'), to make tofu such that I don't feel like I'm eating teeny sponges.

    RVABlogs 2008

  • Any artist can touch up and "revise" one part of their work for an eon instead of tackling something knew.

    We're All Unique. Except Me. Ulysses 2009

  • Gladstone is determined to break free from the control of the TechnoCore at any and all costs, in order to save humankind from an eon of slavery.

    The Fall of Hyperion: It’s the End of the World « A Working Title 2009

  • Now i see all the cult trolls wants to play with johns small tool, com eon you troll come out of the closet and rejoice to all of your homosexuality we all know any ways.

    Think Progress » Cantor backtracks on his bluff, says he’ll show up to health care meeting with Obama. 2010

  • Extend that, AngryMatt, as far into the future as you like (and then add another eon, as it would not probably be far enough into the future for me!).

    Unemployment still at 10%. [pause] Yipe. - Moe_Lane’s blog - RedState 2010

  • Some book highlights from my rss reader, sadly neglected for about a week (which is an eon in blog terms; how quickly one becomes overwhelmed with tempting and fascinating information by not keeping up for a few mere days).

    Film Maxine 2009

  • I was just thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice if wine grew on trees?" eon ju park: aperitivo table

    It's aperitivo time! The Nag 2009

  • After an eon of paperwork, my wife and I traveled to Russia last week, and met the little boy who will soon be our son.

    Matthew Yglesias » February! 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.