era

¹

[ er-uh, eer-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 for

1. Baseball. earned run average ( def ).
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 for

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

/ îr′ə /

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

Has veracity become one of those quaint relics of a bygone era, like straw boaters and torchlight parades?

From Los Angeles Times

I agree with Molly Jong-Fast that the tone of non-stop outrage from that era backfired, by making liberals seem joyless and hysterical.

From Salon

It’s a new era for the Sparks once again.

From Los Angeles Times

Two seasons will take Guardiola to 11 years at the club, which in the current era of managers lasting a dozen games in some instances, feels like a lifetime.

From BBC

It is, by any measure, the lowest ebb of the Emery era so far.

From BBC

Related Words

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