bedtime
UK[ˈbedtaɪm]US[ˈbedtaɪm]
n
The time at which a person usually goes to bed.
n
The time just before a child goes to bed, often involving a routine like reading a story.
Morpheme Breakdown
bed
time
bed
a piece of furniture for sleeping
time
a point or period
Etymology
The word 'bedtime' is a transparent compound formed within English from two native Germanic elements. 'Bed' originates from the Proto-Germanic badją, which referred to a sleeping hollow or plot, a concept extending from a resting place to a garden bed. 'Time' derives from Proto-Germanic tīmô, related to the concept of a stretch or period. The compound 'bedtime' logically and literally denotes the 'time for bed,' a period associated with sleep. Its formation follows the common English pattern of combining two concrete nouns to create a new, specific concept, reflecting the language's capacity for straightforward, descriptive word-building.
Analysis
Structure: bed (a piece of furniture for sleeping) + time (a point or period)
- bed: From Old English 'bedd', meaning a sleeping place or garden plot. It functions as the core noun specifying the context.
- time: From Old English 'tīma', meaning a period or season. It functions as a noun, indicating a specific point or duration.
Examples
It's past your bedtime; you need to go to sleep now.
Reading a story is part of our nightly bedtime routine.
She set a strict bedtime for her children during the school week.