goodnight
UK[ɡʊdˈnaɪt]US[ɡʊdˈnaɪt]
exclamation
used as a conventional expression on parting at night or before going to sleep
n
an instance of saying 'goodnight'; a farewell at night
Morpheme Breakdown
good
night
good
desirable
night
period of darkness
Etymology
The compound 'goodnight' is a conventional farewell phrase formed from two native English words. 'Good' originates from the Proto-Germanic gōdaz, meaning 'fitting, suitable', which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root ghedh-, meaning 'to unite, be associated, suitable'. 'Night' comes from Proto-Germanic nahts, tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European nókʷts, a nearly universal term for the period of darkness. The phrase 'good night' emerged in Middle English as a wish for a pleasant or safe night, directly combining the literal senses of the two words. Over time, it became lexicalized as a single word, 'goodnight', serving as a fixed expression for parting in the evening or before sleep, its original literal meaning still transparently intact.
Analysis
Structure: good (desirable) + night (period of darkness)
- good: From Old English 'gōd', of Germanic origin. Functions as an adjective meaning 'desirable' or 'virtuous' in this compound.
- night: From Old English 'niht', of Germanic origin. Functions as a noun denoting the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
Examples
She kissed the children and said, "Goodnight."
He gave a cheerful goodnight to the security guard.
I'll call you in the morning, so goodnight for now.