'pre-era' originates from the prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' and the word 'era' meaning 'a significant period of time'.

The term 'pre-era' combines the Latin prefix 'pre-' with the English word 'era', which has been used since the 17th century to denote significant periods.

Initially, it meant 'before a significant period', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.