momentides

Momentides is a term used in speculative and fictional contexts to denote discrete units associated with moments in time. It is not an established scientific term, and there is no universally accepted definition. The word is sometimes introduced in discussions about temporal granularity or in works of science fiction to explore how duration might be composed of indivisible units.

Etymology: The term blends moment, referring to a short duration, with the -ide suffix common to particle-like nouns. This signals an intuition of small, discrete entities rather than continuous flow.

Definitions and usage: In philosophy of time, momentides may be described as the smallest possible interval of time or as a hypothetical quanta of duration. In some speculative models they resemble chronons or Planck-scale notions of time, but without standard equations or empirical grounding. The concept is typically used as a thought experiment rather than an established physical entity.

Fictional uses: In literature and world-building, momentides are sometimes depicted as ephemeral particles or events that carry or transmit momentary influence, effects that are not easily localized spatially and that occur at the threshold of perception. They may be invoked to explain sudden changes, memory anchoring, or narratival causation.

Limitations: The term lacks a agreed-upon framework; its meaning varies by author. It should be understood as a rhetorical or speculative device rather than a proven physical concept.

See also: Chronon, Planck time, Discrete time, Time quanta.