An indefinitely long period of time, often used to describe geological or cosmic timescales. In philosophy and theology, an immeasurable period of existence.
From Greek 'aiōn' meaning 'age' or 'lifetime', related to 'aei' (always) and 'on' (being). In Gnostic philosophy, aeons were divine emanations or cosmic ages. The geological sense developed in the 19th century with advances in understanding Earth's history.
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