Night
/naɪt/noun
The period of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
Did you know?In many ancient cultures, night was associated with the realm of the dead, making it a time of both fear and reverence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nókʷts
“the time of darkness, associated with the absence of light.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
νύξ (nýx)
“the goddess of the night, often personified as a powerful and mysterious figure.”
Latin
Latin
nox
“the night, often linked to concepts of darkness and the underworld.”
Old English
Old English
niht
“the time of day when the sun is below the horizon, seen as a time of danger and the supernatural.”
Middle English
Middle English
niht
“the period of darkness, with increasing associations with folklore and the supernatural.”
Modern English
English
night
“the period of darkness that continues to evoke fear and mystery.”