[Two formations: 1. f. Gr. ἐποχ-ή suspension of judgment, f. ἐπέχειν (see EPHECTIC) + -IST; 2. f. EPOCH + -IST.]
† 1. A philosopher of the Ephectic School. Obs.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. (1632), 280. Pyrrho and other Sceptikes, or Epochistes.
2. One who holds the theory that the days of creation in Genesis signify epochs.
1888. Cave, Inspir. O. T., iii. 129. The Epochists regard the days as epochs.