eonal

Eonal is a term that emerged within certain online communities, particularly those discussing speculative fiction, philosophy, or esotericism. It refers to a concept of an immense, immeasurable, or unending period of time, often used in contrast to human-scale historical periods or the lifespan of individuals. The etymology is not definitively established, but it is generally understood to be derived from or related to words denoting eternity or a vast duration.

The usage of eonal is often subjective and context-dependent. It can be employed to describe hypothetical cosmic timescales, the duration of divine or otherworldly existences, or the slow, geological processes that shape planets over vast stretches of time. In some fictional narratives, eonal periods might represent the lifespan of ancient entities or the cycles of creation and destruction in a universe. It is not a scientific term with a precise definition, but rather a linguistic tool to evoke a sense of profound and almost incomprehensible temporal scale. Discussions involving eonal typically aim to explore the limits of human comprehension regarding time and existence.