Main Entry: anach·ro·nism

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈna-krə-ˌni-zəm\

Function: noun

Etymology: probably from Middle Greek anachronismos, from anachronizesthai to be an anachronism, from Late Greek anachronizein to be late, from Greek ana- + chronos time

Date: 1617

1 : an error in chronology; especially : a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other
2 : a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place; especially : one from a former age that is incongruous in the present
3 : the state or condition of being chronologically out of place

— anach·ro·nis·tic \ə-ˌna-krə-ˈnis-tik\ also ana·chron·ic \ˌa-nə-ˈkrä-nik\ adjective

— anach·ro·nis·ti·cal·ly \ə-ˌna-krə-ˈnis-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— anach·ro·nous \ə-ˈna-krə-nəs\ adjective

— anach·ro·nous·ly adverb