Lexic.us

Definition of Epoch

1. Noun. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

2. Noun. (astronomy) an arbitrarily fixed date that is the point in time relative to which information (as coordinates of a celestial body) is recorded.

3. Noun. A unit of geological time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself divided into ages.

Definition of Epoch

1. n. A fixed point of time, established in history by the occurrence of some grand or remarkable event; a point of time marked by an event of great subsequent influence; as, the epoch of the creation; the birth of Christ was the epoch which gave rise to the Christian era.

Definition of Epoch

1. Noun. A particular period of history, especially one considered remarkable or noteworthy. ¹

2. Noun. A notable event which marks the beginning of such a period. ¹

3. Noun. (astronomy) A precise instant of time that is used as a reference point. ¹

4. Noun. (context: computing uncountable) A precise instant of time that is used as a reference point (e.g. January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Epoch

1. a particular period of time [n -S] : EPOCHAL [adj]

Medical Definition of Epoch

1. 1. A fixed point of time, established in history by the occurrence of some grand or remarkable event; a point of time marked by an event of great subsequent influence; as, the epoch of the creation; the birth of Christ was the epoch which gave rise to the Christian era. "In divers ages, . . . Divers epochs of time were used." (Usher) "Great epochs and crises in the kingdom of God." (Trench) "The acquittal of the bishops was not the only event which makes the 30th of June, 1688, a great epoch in history." (Macaulay) Epochs mark the beginning of new historical periods, and dates are often numbered from them. 2. A period of time, longer or shorter, remarkable for events of great subsequent influence; a memorable period; as, the epoch of maritime discovery, or of the Reformation. "So vast an epoch of time." "The influence of Chaucer continued to live even during the dreary interval which separates from one another two important epochs of our literary history." (A. W. Ward) 3. A division of time characterised by the prevalence of similar conditions of the earth; commonly a minor division or part of a period. "The long geological epoch which stored up the vast coal measures." (J. C. Shairp) 4. The date at which a planet or comet has a longitude or position. An arbitrary fixed date, for which the elements used in computing the place of a planet, or other heavenly body, at any other date, are given; as, the epoch of Mars; lunar elements for the epoch March 1st. Synonym: Era, time, date, period, age. Epoch, Era. We speak of the era of the Reformation, when we think of it as a period, during which a new order of things prevailed; so also, the era of good feeling, etc. Had we been thinking of the time as marked by certain great events, or as a period in which great results were effected, we should have called the times when these events happened epochs, and the whole period an epoch. "The capture of Constantinople is an epoch in the history of Mahometanism; but the flight of Mahomet is its era." (C. J. Smith) Origin: LL. Epocha, Gr. Check, stop, an epoch of a star, an historical epoch, fr. To hold on, check; upon + to have, hold; akin to Skr. Sah to overpower, Goth. Sigis victory, AS. Sigor, sige, G. Sieg: cf. F. Epoque. See Scheme. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Epoch

epizootic haemorrhagic disease of deer virus epizootic lymphangitis epizootically epizootics epizooties epizootiologic epizootiologies epizootiology epizooty epizudic

epkwele eplerenone eplivanserin epluchage epn epoch (current term) epoch-making epocha epochal epochally

epochas epoche epochs epode epodes epodic epoetin epoetin alfa epoetins epogen

Literary usage of Epoch

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1896)
"represented by phenomena occurring in the Ozark Plateau region, the particular portion of it included in this epoch is no better de- marked than in the ..."

2. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"(b) Second epoch: Interior reformation of ecclesiastical life through the ... (c) Third epoch: Decline of the ecclesiastical and political power of the ..."

3. Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature by John McClintock, James Strong, Roul Tunley (1883)
"epoch of Solutré — the flints chipped on both sides, and the extremities ... epoch of the Madeleine (Late Reindeer)—the lower extremity of the lance- or ..."

4. Manual of Geology: Treating of the Principles of the Science with Special by James Dwight Dana (1880)
"Cincinnati epoch. — " Matinal " blue shale and slate, with some thin gray calcareous sandstones, 1200 feet. Upper Silurian. ..."

5. The Contemporary Review (1891)
"In this, the Glacial epoch of geologists, England would have been less ... But how cold was it at the epoch ? That is a question difficult to answer ..."

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