dreamtime

[ dreem-tahym ]

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) the ancient time of the creation of all things by sacred ancestors, whose spirits continue into the present, as conceived in Australian Aboriginal mythology.

Dreamtime

/ ˈdriːmtaɪm /

noun

1. Also calledalcheraˈæltʃərəalcheringa (in the mythology of Australian Aboriginal peoples) a mythical Golden Age of the past
2. informal.
   any remote period, out of touch with the actualities of the present

Word History and Origins

Origin of dreamtime¹

First recorded in 1905–10; dream + time

Example Sentences

She has worked with Aborigines and the National Museum of Australia to tell the dreamtime story of the seven sisters, developed new interactive ways of accessing a trove of archival footage of 5,400 musicians playing jazz, blues and Latin music, and used digital technology to allow more people to access vital — but delicate — cultural treasures, such as the Mogao caves at Dunhuang in China.

From New York Times

In “There’s a Reason,” from Verlaine’s 1981 album, “Dreamtime,” infatuation feels like being buffeted from every direction by emotions and sensations.

From New York Times

Verlaine released eight solo albums, his most commercially successful being his 1981 sophomore solo album “Dreamtime,” which peaked at No. 177 on the Billboard album chart.

From Seattle Times

We’re not hiking through some dreamtime rave cave in the fifth dimension.

From Washington Post

Behind him, a transparent Aboriginal Custodian whispers calmly his Dreamtime story of creation by a fish.

From Literature