αιώνας

Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek αἰών (aiṓn, “epoch”).

Noun

αιώνας • (aiónas) m (plural αιώνες)

1. century (100 consecutive years)

   Synonym: εκατονταετία (ekatontaetía)

2. century (specifically a numbered period with conventional start)

   Synonym: (abbrev.) αι. (ai.)

   Έγινε στα μέσα του 20ου αιώνα.

   Égine sta mésa tou 20ou aióna.

   It took place in the middle of the 20th century.

3. (geology) eon, era, age

   Φανεροζωικός αιώνας ― Fanerozoïkós aiónas ― Phanerozoic eon

4. eternity, age, eon

Usage notes

"Proterozoic eon" will be found translated as Προτεροζωικός αιώνας (Proterozoïkós aiónas) and Προτεροζωικός μεγααιώνας (Proterozoïkós megaaiónas). The form αιώνας (aiónas) can mean any long period (age, century, etc) so μεγααιώνας (megaaiónas, “large eon”) is often used to make the meaning clear.

Declension

Declension of αιώνας

	singular	plural
nominative	αιώνας •	αιώνες •
genitive	αιώνα •	αιώνων •
accusative	αιώνα •	αιώνες •
vocative	αιώνα •	αιώνες •

Synonyms

• (eon): μεγααιώνας m (megaaiónas) (geological timescale)

Coordinate terms

• see: έτος n (étos, “year”)

Related terms

• αιώνια (aiónia, “forever”, adverb)
• αιώνιος (aiónios, “eternal, perpetual”, adjective)
• αιωνιότητα f (aioniótita, “eternity”)
• αιωνίως (aioníos, “forever”, adverb)
• αιωνόβιος (aionóvios, “long-living”, adjective)