MIDNIGHT Meaning and
Definition
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Midnight refers to the exact middle of the night, the period twelve o'clock in the night, or the moment when one day ends and another begins. It is the point in time that is equidistant from sunset and sunrise during the night, dividing it in half. Derived from the Old English word "midniht", it combines the terms "mid" (meaning middle) and "niht" (meaning night). Midnight typically marks the transition from one calendar day to the next, although the exact time may vary depending on cultural and regional conventions.
Symbolically, midnight is often associated with darkness, secrecy, and mystery. It is the hour when most people are asleep, and it represents a threshold where the boundary between two days blurs. Due to these associations, midnight has been commonly portrayed in literature, folklore, and art as a time of supernatural occurrences, magic, and transformative moments.
The concept of midnight is also widely used to indicate a specific time for events, deadlines, or schedules. For example, if a party invitation states that it will begin at midnight, it is understood that it will start at twelve o'clock at night. Additionally, midnight is sometimes used metaphorically to highlight the concept of an exceptional or pivotal moment, as in the saying "burning the midnight oil," which metaphorically signifies studying or working late into the night.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for MIDNIGHT *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for MIDNIGHT
Etymology of MIDNIGHT
The word midnight has its origins in Old English. It is a compound word consisting of mid (meaning middle) and niht (meaning night). In Old English, midniht referred to the middle point of the night. The word has been recorded as midniht in various forms in Old English texts such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling evolved to its present form, midnight.
Idioms with the word MIDNIGHT
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one hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after
The idiom "one hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after" means that getting an adequate amount of restful sleep before midnight is more beneficial and valuable than getting double the amount of sleep after midnight. It suggests that the quality of sleep obtained before midnight is superior and offers more rejuvenating and refreshing effects on the body and mind.
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burn the midnight oil
The idiom "burn the midnight oil" means to work or study late into the night. It implies staying up late and sacrificing sleep in order to complete a task or meet a deadline.
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the land of the midnight sun
The idiom "the land of the midnight sun" refers to an area near the Earth's poles, often the Arctic or Antarctic regions, where during the summer months the sun remains visible for 24 hours a day due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.
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burning the midnight oil
The idiom "burning the midnight oil" is figurative language that means to work or study late into the night, often sacrificing sleep or leisure time in order to complete a task or achieve a goal.
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do a moonlight/midnight flit
To "do a moonlight/midnight flit" means to leave a place suddenly and unexpectedly, typically under secretive or suspicious circumstances, especially in order to avoid paying debts or escaping a difficult situation.
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