- Main Entry:
- 1con·tem·po·rary
- Pronunciation:
-
\kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē, -ˌre-rē\
- Function:
- adjective
- Etymology:
- com- + Latin tempor-, tempus
- Date:
- 1631
1: happening, existing, living, or coming into being during the same period of time2 a: simultaneous b: marked by characteristics of the present period : modern, current
—
con·tem·po·rar·i·ly \-ˌtem-pə-ˈrer-ə-lē\ adverb 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
<Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin>.
contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people
<contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping>.
coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons
<two stars thought to be coeval>.
synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals
<synchronous timepieces>.
simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time
<the two shots were simultaneous>.
coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship
<the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year>.
