Also 7–9 æra. [a. late L. æra fem. sing. ‘a number expressed in figures’ (see Forcellini, s.v.), prob. f. æra counters used in calculation, pl. of æs brass, money.
The chronological use of the word appears to have originated in Spain; where (as also in Southern Gaul and North Africa) it is found in inscriptions prefixed to the number of years elapsed since 38 B.C., the selection of which as an initial year has not been satisfactorily explained. (Isidore of Seville in the 6th c. says that this was the year in which Augustus first ordered the taxation of Spain.) Thus ‘æra (oftener written era) DXXXVIII’ (= ‘No. 538’) meant the year 500 A.D. This method of reckoning was in use from the 5th to the 15th century, and Spanish Latin writers employed the word æra as its specific designation. The phrase æra Hispanica, ‘Spanish æra,’ suggested to the scholars of the Renascence the parallel expressions æra Christiana, æra Varroniana, etc., in which the sb. had the generalized sense ‘a reckoning of time from a particular epoch,’ for which no term had previously existed in Latin.]
1. A system of chronological notation, characterized by the numbering of years from some particular point of time; e.g., the Christian, Common, or Vulgar era (see CHRISTIAN 7); era of the Hegira (Hijrah), the Mohammedan era, reckoned from the year of Mohammed’s flight from Mecca; era of Nabonassar, a Babylonian era, employed in astronomy, commencing 747 B.C., etc., etc. These phrases are also frequently employed in sense 2.
a. 1646. J. Gregory, Posthuma (1649), 164. Dionysius the Abbot … brought in the Æra of Christ’s Incarnation, so that … the Christians did not use to reckon by the years of Christ, until the 532 of the Incarnation.
1650. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 504. They would begin their epocha or æra from his comeing to Jerusalem.
1658. Ussher, Ann., Ep. Rdr. That midnight which began the first day of the Christian æra.
1716. Prideaux, Connect. O. & N. T., I. I. 1. The vulgar era, by which we now compute the years from his incarnation.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 658. 516 The computing of time by the Christian æra is introduced by Dionysius the monk.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 223. In the year 570 of our Era … the man Mahomet was born.
1861. F. Hall, in Jrnl. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 149. A few words on the vexed subject of the Gupta era.
2. The initial point assumed in a system of chronology; also, any date from which succeeding years are numbered; = EPOCH 1.
1615. Bedwell, Arab. Trudg. Tarich … is the same that Epocha is to the Greeks: or Æra to the Latines.
1657. Wharton, Wks., 49. The Greek Church numbereth from the Creation to Christ’s Æra, 5508 compleat years.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 6. ÆRA is the same with Epocha, signifying … a fixed Point among Historians, whence to begin to reckon the Years.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, II. ii. 116. When we come still farther to the Æra of Nabonassar.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1778), I. I. 10. About six hundred and four years before the Christian æra.
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 13. The 7th century before the present æra.
1853. Herschel, Pop. Lect. Sc., v. § 12 (1873), 187. Some three centuries before our era.
3. A date, or an event, that forms the commencement of a new period in the history of a nation, an institution, individual, art or science, etc.; a memorable or important date. Cf. EPOCH 2.
1703. Rowe, Fair Penit., II. i. 488. From this sacred Æra of my Love A better order of succeeding Days Come smiling forward.
1765. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Col. Mass., i. 90. This [the earthquake of 1638] was a remarkable æra.
1787. J. Barlow, Oration, 4th July, 6. This single circumstance … will … mark it [the American revolution] as a distinguished æra in the history of mankind.
1851. Dixon, W. Penn, xxiv. (1872), 210. The landing of this English Governor was an era in their lives.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. vi. 419. This same year a Witenagemot was held, which marks an æra in the reign of Cnut.
† b. Date of origin; = EPOCH 2 b.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. ix. 199. And it will evidently appeare, that custome hath an elder Æra then this Chronologie affordeth.
4. An historical period; a portion of historical time marked by the continuance throughout it of particular influences, social conditions, etc. Cf. EPOCH 5.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, I. I. (ed. 2), 13. This æra of joy.
1758. H. Walpole, Catal. Roy. Authors (1759), I. Advt. 2. The polished æra of Queen Anne!
1789. Burney, Hist. Mus., IV. i. 21. The beginning of this century (1600), was the æra of musical recitation on the public stage at Florence.
1809. Pinkney, Trav. France, 106. Gallantry is … as much in fashion … as in the most corrupt æra of the monarchy.
1858. Kingsley, Lett. (1877), I. 399. I cannot but hope that a better intellectual era is dawning for the working men.
b. A period in an individual’s life, or in the history of any continuous process; = EPOCH 5 b. In Geology sometimes with more specific sense: see EPOCH 5 c.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 341. In autumn, after harvest, that gladsome era in the husbandman’s life.
1809. Crabbe, Tales, 63. Felt the new æra of her changeful life.
1839. Murchison, Silur. Syst., I. Introd. 11. The æra when the newly-raised surface was first occupied by lakes and broad rivers.
1870. F. R. Wilson, Ch. Lindisf., 95. It belongs to the worst era of architecture.
5. The portion of historical time to which an event is to be assigned; the approximate date, ‘period,’ ‘epoch’ of an event, of a monument, etc.
1714. Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1733), II. 132. Many useful arts and sciences, of which the beginnings are of uncertain æra’s.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. 261. The pillar … stands upon one of the Cyanean rocks: and its parts … betray a difference in their æra.
1819. Byron, Juan, I. cxxi. ’Twas in November, but I’m not so sure About the day—the era’s more obscure.
6. attrib., as era-date.
1758. W. Thompson, Hymn to May, 242. Ne rueful murder stain thy æra-date.
