Added 9 October 2026
epoch
/ˈiːpɒk/ noun
In Latin: epocha Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about epoch at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A particular period of history, or of a person's life, especially one considered noteworthy or remarkable.
- A notable event which marks the beginning of such a period.
-
A specific instant in time, chosen as the point of reference or zero value of a system that involves identifying instants of time.
UNIX epoch; J2000 epoch
verb
Origin
From Medieval Latin epocha, from Ancient Greek ἐποχή (epokhḗ, “a check, cessation, stop, pause, epoch of a star, i.e., the point at which it seems to halt after reaching the highest, and generally the place of a star; hence, a historical epoch”), from ἐπέχω (epékhō, “to hold in, check”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “upon”) + ἔχω (ékhō, “to have, hold”). Doublet of epoche.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)