0

I'm sometimes confused by notations from the dictionary. Simply put, I don't understand what it is trying to convey. Here is one example.

2.4 (also times) A portion of time in history or characterized by particular events or circumstances:

Victorian times

at the time of Galileo

the park is beautiful at this time of year

source: here

How should I understand the notation "also times"

Does it mean all the singular "time"s in the above sentences are interchangeable with "times" s and vice versa？To be specific, are these equally acceptable：

Victorian time

at the times of Galileo

the park is beautiful at these times of year

ForOU
  • 1,673
  • 6
  • 17

1 Answers1

4

It means that just that sense of the word time also may appear as the plural times.

It doesn't necessarily mean that the singular and plural are interchangeable, just that that sense occurs in both forms in particular expressions.
In your examples, Victorian time and times of Galileo sound wrong. These times of year sounds iffy too.

Jack O'Flaherty
  • 42,425
  • 4
  • 43
  • 62
  • 2
    "These times of year" is fine if you're talking about multiple times, for example, "I love spring and summer, the park is beautiful at these times of year". I agree that the other two definitely sound wrong though. – Fiona Jun 30 '22 at 06:53
  • @Jack, Fiona. Thank you. But the plurality of "Victoria times" isn't because of being "multiple times" but convention. It is still a single period of time. Do I get it right? – ForOU Jun 30 '22 at 08:40
  • 2
    In Victorian times is a rather vague way of saying during the reign of Queen Victoria. It was a long one which saw many changes, but times is also used in the sense 'characteristics of a particular period', as in The Times newspaper and the expression 'the life and times of [person]'. – Kate Bunting Jun 30 '22 at 14:25
  • @Robbyzhu You're right, convention has a lot to do with it. In the time of Queen Victoria and in Victorian times both sound normal. – Jack O'Flaherty Jun 30 '22 at 15:57