Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EP'OCH, or EP'O-CHA, n. [L. epocha; Gr. εποχη, retention, delay, stop, from επεχω, to inhibit; επι and εχω, to hold.]

1. In chronology, a fixed point of time, from which succeeding years are numbered; a point from which computation of years begins. The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, and the Babylonish captivity, are remarkable epochs in their history.
2. Any fixed time or period; the period when any thing begins or is remarkably prevalent; as, the epoch of falsehood; the epoch of woe. – Donne. Prior. The fifteenth century was the unhappy epoch of military establishments in time of peace. – Madison.