English
eonian
Eonian comes from Ancient Greek αἰώνιος ‘lasting for an age’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyu- ‘vital force, life, long life, eternity’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eyu-‘vital force, life, long life, eternity’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαἰών‘age, eon’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰώνιοςaiṓnios‘lasting for an age’
- Englishearliest quotation 1850eonian
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eyu-‘vital force, life, long life, eternity’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEαἰών‘age, eon’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEαἰώνιοςaiṓnios‘lasting for an age’
- Englishearliest quotation 1850eonian
Earliest quotation: 1850, [Alfred, Canto XXXV: “But I should turn mine ears and hear The…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyu- ‘vital force, life, long life, eternity’
eternal, aye, ay, eternity, eval, 8 more
through Ancient Greek αἰών ‘age, eon’
Today it means
adj Of or pertaining to an eon
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyu- / eonian