night-time
UK[ˈnaɪt taɪm]US[ˈnaɪt taɪm]
n
The time between evening and morning; the period of darkness in each twenty-four hours.
Morpheme Breakdown
night
time
night
the period of darkness
time
a period or duration
Etymology
The compound "night-time" is a transparent and relatively modern English formation, directly combining two fundamental, ancient nouns. "Night" descends from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning darkness, a concept personified in many mythologies. "Time" originates from a root meaning to cut or divide, reflecting the human impulse to segment the continuous flow of existence. Their union in "night-time" logically specifies a particular segment of the diurnal cycle, moving from the abstract concept of darkness to a measurable duration within it, illustrating how compounding creates precise, concrete terms from broad, elemental ideas.
Analysis
Structure: night (the period of darkness) + time (a period or duration)
- night: From Old English niht, Proto-Germanic nahts, Proto-Indo-European nókʷts. A simplex noun denoting the period of darkness.
- time: From Old English tīma, Proto-Germanic tīmô, Proto-Indo-European dī- ("to divide, cut up"). A simplex noun denoting a period or duration.
Examples
The streets are quiet at night-time.
Young children often have a set night-time routine before bed.
Animals that are active during night-time are called nocturnal.