E"ra (?), n.; pl. Eras (#). [LL. aera an era, in earlier usage, the items of an account, counters, pl. of aes, aeris, brass, money. See Ore.]
1.
A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of years is reckoned.
The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by Ideler to have been an era.
R. S. Poole.
2.
A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era (see under Christian).
The first century of our era.
M. Arnold.
3.
A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signal stage of history; an epoch.
Painting may truly be said to have opened the new era of culture.
J. A. Symonds.
Syn. -- Epoch; time; date; period; age; dispensation. See Epoch.
© Webster 1913.