midday
UK[ˌmɪdˈdeɪ]US[ˈmɪdˌdeɪ]
n
The middle of the day; noon.
Morpheme Breakdown
mid
day
mid
middle
day
day
Etymology
The word 'midday' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. The first element, 'mid', descends from a very ancient Proto-Indo-European root meaning "middle", which is also the source for words like 'medium' and 'mediate'. The second element, 'day', originates from a root meaning "to burn", reflecting the concept of daylight as the hot, bright period. When combined in Old English, these two straightforward morphemes literally denoted the "middle of the day". This logical construction has remained perfectly clear and unchanged in meaning for over a millennium, directly naming the point when the sun is at its highest.
Analysis
Structure: mid (middle) + day (day)
- 'mid': From Old English 'midd', meaning "middle". Its origin is Proto-Germanic midja- and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root medhyo- meaning "middle".
- 'day': From Old English 'dæg', meaning "day". Its origin is Proto-Germanic dagaz, from the Proto-Indo-European root dhegh- meaning "to burn, be hot".
Examples
We agreed to meet at midday in the town square.
The sun is strongest around midday, so it's best to seek shade.
The office is usually quietest just after midday, when many are at lunch.