[a. Fr. anachronisme, ad. L. anachronism-us, a. Gr. ἀναχρονισμ-ός, n. of action f. ἀναχρονίζ-ειν to refer to a wrong time, f. ἀνά up, backwards + χρόν-ος time.]
1. An error in computing time, or fixing dates; the erroneous reference of an event, circumstance, or custom to a wrong date. Said etymologically (like prochronism) of a date which is too early, but also used of too late a date, which has been distinguished as parachronism.
a. 1646. J. G[regory], De Æris et Ep. (1650), 174. An error committed herein [in a Synchronism] is called Anachronism.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. III. viii. 85. This error sprang from Anachronisme, and confusion of Histories.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 7. Virgil making Dido and Æneas Cotemporaries, whereas they lived at Three Hundred Years distance … committed an Anachronism.
1798. Ferriar, Eng. Histor., 249. An anachronism of thirty or forty years … is easily overlooked.
1856. Mrs. Stowe, Dred (1856), I. Pref. Some anachronisms with regard to the time of the session of courts have been allowed.
1876. E. Mellor, Priesth., iv. 172. The so-called literal interpretation involves an anachronism, inasmuch as it antedates the death of our Lord upon the cross.
2. Anything done or existing out of date; hence, anything that was proper to a former age, but is, or, if it existed, would be, out of harmony with the present; also called a practical anachronism.
1816. Coleridge, Lay Serm., 329. If this one-eyed experience does not seduce its worshipper into practical anachronisms.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, ix. 145. A pilgrimage now seems an anachronism.
1864. Round Table, 18 June, 4/3. She gives them phrases and words which … had their beginning long since that period, and are in fact linguistic anachronisms.
1871. Daily News, 15 April, 2/1. They [the benchers] would be living anachronisms in this age of progress, were it not that they are extremely fond of good eating.
