1640s, from Latin aeon, from Greek aion "age, vital force, a period of existence, lifetime, generation;" in plural, "eternity," from PIE root *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity" (cf. Sanskrit ayu "life," Avestan ayu "age," Latin aevum "space of time, eternity," Gothic aiws "age, eternity," Old Norse ævi "lifetime," German ewig "everlasting," Old English a "ever, always").