aeon

[ ee-uhn, ee-on ]

noun

1. Also Ae·on. (in Gnosticism) one of a class of powers or beings conceived as emanating from the Supreme Being and performing various functions in the operations of the universe.
2. eon.

aeon

/ ˈiːɒn; ˈiːən /

noun

1. an immeasurably long period of time; age
2. a period of one thousand million years
3. often capital gnosticism one of the powers emanating from the supreme being and culminating in the demiurge

Word History and Origins

Origin of aeon¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin, from Greek aiṓn “age, long period of time, eternity”

Word History and Origins

Origin of aeon¹

C17: from Greek aiōn an infinitely long time

Example Sentences

In political terms both of those situations dragged on for aeons before the two ministers were shown the door.

From BBC

Scientists wanted to collect pristine material from Ryugu that had not been altered by exposure to the environment of space for aeons.

From BBC

Hayabusa-2 subsequently descended into this depression with the intention of collecting fresh rocks that had not been altered by aeons of exposure to the environment of space.

From BBC

Every other mammal that went to sea—seals, sea cows, dolphins—had to evolve for aeons to develop specialised organs and a hydrodynamic body.

From Literature

Astronomers think the blast originated aeons ago from a supermassive black hole in the cluster.

From Nature

Related Words

• age
• course
• cycle
• date
• duration
• era
• season
• span
• stage
• stretch
• term
• time