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Coeval comes to English from the Latin word coaevus, meaning "of the same age." Coaevus was formed by combining the co- prefix ("in or to the same degree") with Latin aevum ("age" or "lifetime"). The root aevum is also a base in such temporal words as longevity, medieval, and primeval. Although coeval can technically describe any two or more entities that coexist, it is most typically used to refer to things that have existed together for a very long time (such as galaxies) or that were concurrent with each other in the distant past (parallel historical periods of ancient civilizations, for example).
Synonyms
contemporary, contemporaneous, coeval, synchronous, simultaneous, coincident mean existing or occurring at the same time.
contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.
contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.
coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.
synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.
simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.
coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.
Examples of coeval in a Sentence
Word History
Late Latin coaevus "of the same age" (from Latin co- co- + -aevus, adjective derivative of aevus, aevum "time as the medium in which events occur, age, lifetime") + -al entry 1 — more at aye entry 3
1645, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Coeval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coeval. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
coeval
adjective
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