Historical & Epochs Vocabulary

a particular period of time marked by distinctive features

“The digital revolution marked a new epoch in human history.”

Origin: Greek epokhē `fixed point in time` (epi `upon` + ekhein `to hold`)

a long and distinct period of history

“The Victorian era was characterized by strict moral codes.”

Origin: Latin aera `counters, items of account` (possibly from aes `bronze, money`)

an indefinitely long period of time; an age

“It seemed like aeons since they had last spoken.”

Origin: Greek aiōn `age, lifetime, eternity`

a period of a thousand years

“Humanity entered the third millennium with great optimism.”

Origin: Latin mille `thousand` + annus `year`

the ancient past, especially before the Middle Ages

“The ruins date back to antiquity.”

Origin: Latin antiquitas `ancient times` (from antiquus `ancient, former`)

all future generations of people

“We must preserve these forests for posterity.”

Origin: Latin posteritas `future generations` (from posterus `coming after`)

the defining spirit or mood of a particular period

“The zeitgeist of the 1960s was one of rebellion and change.”

Origin: German Zeit `time` + Geist `spirit`

relating to the end of a century, especially the 19th century

“The fin de siècle atmosphere was marked by decadence and ennui.”

Origin: French fin `end` + de `of` + siècle `century`

denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy

“He looked back on the halcyon days of his youth.”

Origin: Greek halkuōn `kingfisher` (from mythical bird that calmed the sea)

belonging to an earlier time

“These tools are relics of a bygone era.”

Origin: Middle English `by` + `gone` (gone by, past)