eon

eon Definition

eon (ē′ən, ē′än′)

noun

an extremely long, indefinite period of time; thousands and thousands of years
Geol.
1. the major unit of geologic time, usually subdivided into eras
2. a billion years

Etymology: LL < Gr aiōn, an age, lifetime, eternity < IE base *aiw-, vitality: see aye

eon Synonyms

eternity, cycle, age; see age 3, 4, period 1. See syn. study at period.

eon Usage Examples

Preposition: of

time: There has been fighting in the Middle East for eons of time.
history: The rocks of both sharing in common the eons of history that have passed since their birthing.

Converse of object

take: Fossils, coal deposits, petroleum deposits, all of them took immense eons to form.
seem: It seemed eons since she and Alex had sat for hours at dinner and chatted about the things that were important to them.
wait: It was captured by Saturn's gravitational field and has been waiting eons for Cassini to come along.
start: What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago?

Adjective modifier

Proterozoic: Symbiosis in Cell Evolution: Microbial Communities in the Archean and Proterozoic Eons, second edition.
Hadean: Earth condenses from the hot gases of the Solar Nebula... January to early March: Hadean eon.

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