chron

Chron is a combining form derived from the Greek word chronos, meaning time. In English it functions as a root rather than a stand-alone word, and it appears most often in compounds and technical terms that relate to time, timing, or the sequencing of events.

Common uses of chron include chronology, chronicle, and related terms. Chronology is the science of ordering events by time and the arrangement of dates in a sequence. A chronicle is a written record of events in their time order, often historical in nature. Chronometer refers to a highly precise timekeeping device, especially important in navigation, while chronograph denotes an instrument that records time intervals. Chronic, although emotionally loaded in everyday speech, originally derives from the sense of lasting over time.

Several words formed with chron carry broader meanings about time. Anachronism describes something out of its proper time period. Synchronization, derived from the idea of bringing events to occur at the same time, comes via chronos as part of its etymology. In science, chronobiology studies biological rhythms, and chronotherapy considers timing medical treatments to align with circadian cycles. A theoretical concept, the chronon, is proposed by some physicists as a smallest possible unit of time.

In mythology, Chronos (often spelled Chronos or Khrónos) is the personification of time in Greek tradition, distinct from Cronus, the Titan associated with agriculture; both share the same linguistic root but represent different figures. Overall, chron serves as a productive root in English for anything relating to time, duration, and temporal ordering.