epoche

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noun

Moment of theoretical suspension of all action.

OriginAncient Greek ἐποχή (epokhḗ) ← Proto-Hellenic *hékʰō ← Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounepoche (plural epoches)

plural epoches · alternative epoché

  1. human sciencesMoment of theoretical suspension of all action.
  2. human sciencesMoment of theoretical suspension of belief.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
  4. Proto-Hellenic*epí
  5. Ancient Greekἐπί (epí)
  6. Ancient Greekἐπι- (epi-)
  7. Proto-Indo-European*seǵʰ-
  8. Proto-Hellenic*hékʰō
  9. Ancient Greekἔχω (ékhō)
  10. Ancient Greekἐπέχω (epékhō)
  11. Ancient Greekἐποχή (epokhḗ)
  12. Englishepoche

Borrowed from Latin epocha or German Epoche, from Ancient Greek ἐποχή (epokhḗ). Doublet of epoch. This term was introduced by Husserl and other phenomenologists, although it also seems to be present in Aristotelian philosophy (as the concept did originate with Aristotle).

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Cite this entry
APA

epoche. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epoche

MLA

“epoche.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epoche. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epoche,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epoche.

Source: epoche on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.