Era \E"ra\, n.; pl. Eras. [LL. aera an era, in earlier usage,
the items of an account, counters, pl. of aes, aeris, brass,
money. See Ore.]
1. A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a
series of years is reckoned.
The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by
Ideler to have been an era. --R. S. Poole.
2. A period of time reckoned from some particular date or
epoch; a succession of years dating from some important
event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the
Christian era (see under Christian).
The first century of our era. --M. Arnold.
3. A period of time in which a new order of things prevails;
a signal stage of history; an epoch.
Painting may truly be said to have opened the new
era of culture. --J. A.
Symonds.
Syn: Epoch; time; date; period; age; dispensation. See
Epoch.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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