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

The newspaper added: “A growing contingent of right-wing tech figures argue that Trump can usher in a new era of American dominance by removing red tape.”

From Salon

The US Open eluded him the longest, but when he conquered New York in 2010, he became the youngest man in the Open era to complete the career Grand Slam.

From BBC

The board’s choice of Dr. Sasse worried some on campus who believed it signaled a new era of conservative interference.

From New York Times

Added to this are the uncertainties around copyright legislation written for a pre-AI era which will need to be renegotiated.

From BBC

If this is Chelsea in a new era, it seems they are heading in the same direction as their previous one - towards more success.

From BBC

Related Words

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