Middle English Dictionary Entry
mid-night n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mid-night n. Also -niht, -niȝt, -nicht, -niȝht, -nit, -niȝth, -nith, -niȝthte, -neȝt, (WM) -naht, (early) -niþt & mideniht, middenight, -niȝt & medeniȝt, meddeneigt & (dative, chiefly early) midder(e)nihte, middre- & (errors) mdniht, mydnygh, myndnyght. |
| Etymology | OE mid-niht & phr. on mid(d)re nihte, Nhb. on midder (middum) næht. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Midnight, 12 o'clock at night; houre (time) of ~, midnight; heigh ~, exactly midnight; (b) a the ~, at (the) ~, to (the) ~, at midnight; (c) abouten (the) ~, about midnight; after (the) ~, over ~, after midnight; a (o) that ~, forto (til, to) ~, until midnight; biforen (the) ~, before midnight.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5766 : Sendeð ut cnihtes & biginneð to fihten ær hit beo mid-niht.
- c1300 SLeg.Cuth.(LdMisc 108)88 : Hit was midniȝt neiȝ.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)404,409 : Ounder þine fet euene it is at midniȝt onder þe grounde..And Noon it is bi-nethen us ȝwane it is here mid-niȝt.
- a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)82 : Þis frenshe come to flaundres so liht so þe hare; er hit were mydnyht, hit fel hem to care.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4140 : At tyme of midniȝt [B: midder nyȝt] of þe niȝt, him mette a greuous cas.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2066 : Sire, i seiȝ hire nouȝt seþ hieȝ midniȝt.
- (c1396) Doc.in Bk.Lond.E.233/6 : At þe oure of mydnyt, þe thorusday in estarne Weke, þe reyne of oure lord þe Kyng xvje.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2790 : Þis pitous life þe longe nyȝt sche ledde With-out respit..Til hiȝe mydnyȝt þat þe cokkes crowe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.602 : Troilus..myght it se Thorughout a litel wyndow in a stewe, Ther he bishet, syn mydnyght [vr. myndnyght], was in mewe.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)76 : The daye woxe als dirke Als it were mydnyghte [vr. the mydnyȝte] myrke.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)37.367 : Abowtes the hygh Mydnyht, here hadden we a wondirful syht.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)42.91 : Abowtes high Midnyht, he fyl On slepe Anon Ryht.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2541 : Er hyt was passyd mydde-nyght, The lady was kast upperyght.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3689 : The heuyn..Wex merke as þe mydnight.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)39/14 : It come to the houre of myd nyght.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)397 : He had nede to solue Long or it wer mydnyȝt.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.27.105b : The belle be gan to sowne the oure of mydnyght.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)801/41 : Equinoxium, Anglice, mydnythe.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)44/8 : To middere nihte ic wæs risende to andetnesse ofer þa domæs þinre rihtwisnesse.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1683 : A þa mid niht [ Otho: at þe midniþt] heo nomen read.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)20595 : Cumen wolde Arður..to þere middernihte.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21701 : To þere mid-nihte [ Otho: To þare md-niht], Arður aras forð riht.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25714 : He hæhte heom..beon al war to midder-niht.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)7983 : Julius Cesar..to þare midnihte fleh mid his cnihtes.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)20607 : Hit was to þan midniht; þe mone son souþriht.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)259/111 : Atþe mid-nyȝt..he bigan sum-del reste a-fongue.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)579 : A gret deouel þere cam In at mid-niȝt.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)516 : Ȝe nuteþ whanne þe lord comeþ..At eue oþer at mydniȝt.
- a1350 St.Marina (Hrl 2253)72 : Hit wolde aryse to þe mydnaht.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)173/12 : Þe kyng dauid aros at midniȝt him uor to ssriue.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)118.62 : Ich ros vp at midniȝt [L Media nocte] to shriue to þe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 16.25 : At mydnyȝt Poul and Silas, worschipinge, herieden God.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2891 : And at the Midnyht..The Pope slepte.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)118/14 : His maister a wooke att mydniȝth.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)120 : I Charge ȝow, rise not at Mydnyght.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.52 : Bigynne þou þe kyndely daie at mydnyȝt, as þe Chirche doiþ.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)119b/b : Ȝif it þe pacient wiþ wine, & ȝiffe it him at middenyȝt.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)6 : Þei..excusen hem her-bi fro preiynge and rysynge at mydnyȝt.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)200/32 : Sche was in her chirch at mydde-nyght to heryn her Mateyns.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17431 : Þen bus þou gyfe me leue forto haue rowm and redy way Euer more at myd nyȝt forto meue to certayn place my god to pray.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)1109 : Euyn atte þe mydnyȝte, Hor lordis sembelet.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)104b : I stoode in my bedes þe saturday at midnight [vr. medde neyȝt].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)27/3 : At mydnyght they sette uppon them as they were in their pavilions.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)299 : Þat þei seyn is best, as obedience to here souereyn & risyng at myd-nyȝt whiþ kepyng of here priuat reulis & sewyng of here chapitris.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)21/22 : At mydnygh Crist was borne; for þen alle þyng be kynd taketh rest yn schewyng þat he ys prynce of pes.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7983 : Julius Cesar..a-buten mid-nihte..warnede alle his cnihtes.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)125/13 : Ðese muȝen ȝesen alswa wel onbuten mid-niht alswa on mid-daiȝ.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)32/536 : Wanunge & wepunge..schal abute midniht makie þe to wakien.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1733 : Ha wenden from hire, abuten þe midniht.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)122/20 : His meistre warð o slepe..& slepte aðet mid niht [Nero: uort midniht; Cleo: oðet mid nicht].
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)74/1338 : Honder sodenne syde Here schip bigan to glide Abowte myd niȝte [vr. þe midnyhte].
- c1300 SLeg.Silv.(1) (LdMisc 108)32 : Vnneþe he liuede for-to mid-niȝht.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9898 : Þus þai fouȝten til midniȝt.
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)367/22 : For it was after þe midniȝt.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)85/1654 : Ac it was aboute þe mid-niȝt.
- c1350 St.Greg.(Cleo D.9)44/215 : In a bote aboute midniȝt, Hit schal beon ipult in þe flod.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1467 : Soone after the mydnyght [vr. mydenyht], Palamoun..brak his prisoun.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4148 : Aboute mydnyght [vr. medenyȝt] wente they to reste.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1366 : To nyȝt..about mydnyȝt [vr. mydneȝt], In my dreme y dremyd ful ryȝt.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)15944 : Bi þis was time of night passid ouer midnight and mare.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5354 : Hij token rest a litel wiȝtth Forto it were ouer midniȝth.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2958 : After mydnyȝt, to-fore þe morwe gray, Hym þouȝt he sawe appere a creature.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)15/25 : Þanne sal ye ryse at þe aȝtend time of þe nyght, þat it be litil ouir mid-nyght.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135a/a : Be þer made electuarium, of which onez or twiez in þe wike after mydnyȝt [L post mediam noctem] be giffen.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)302/6 : Siche curatis..lerne..for to make wommen come to hem by disceyt of the feend aboute mydnyȝt.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3223 : Bot be ane aftyre mydnyghte, all his mode changede.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)111/12 : Aboute mydnyȝthte he rase oute of þe bedde.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)53.211 : He Rod tyl Myd Nyht.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1125 : In tyme of winter..es risyng right At þe aght our of þe nyght, And after mydnyght for to rest.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)61/14 : And aftre soper they hade carralles, daunces, and songys to mydnyght.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)15 : And abowt mydnyght he laid certayne plaunches and hurdelles over the diches.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)221 : In the xxxvi ȝere blew the grete wynd..fro evensong til mydnyte.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)307 : The Kyng was in the feld sone aftir mydnyte.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)522 : A lytyll be fore mydnyght, Of a dragon he had syght.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1420 : A litull be-ffore the mydnyght, He Rode be a foreste.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)23/19 : Þe fyrst masse..ys songon þis day sone aftyr mydnyght.
- a1500 St.Jerome (Lamb 432)348/5 : Whan this holy man was dede, about mydnyght or mydmorow, anone þer shewid many myraclis.
2.
(a) As adj.: ~ houre (tide), time ~, midnight; (b) as adv.: at midnight.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3961 : Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste..And that was ate mydnyht tyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6306 : Þei, allas..At mydnyȝt hour a-bedde laie slepynge.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1186 : Til it was passed almost mydnygh [vr. mydnyght] hour.
- c1450 In a noon (Lamb 853)109 : A cok can crowe his tyme mydnyȝt, Which he knowith weel in his degre.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15942 : Ælche middernihte [Otho: Eche midnihte] heo bigunneð to fihten.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Eg 614)118.62 : And midniht [Vsp: At midnighte], ros I to shriue to þe.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.33 : And mydnythe, matynes, evensong, prime, and houres, She wol the syng and weepe.
3.
Astron. An imaginary line in the sky; prob. a line running from the center of the earth to the nadir; pointe of ~, the point in the sky (beneath the earth) at which the moon crosses the line of midnight; ~ line, line of ~, a line on an astrolabe or an equatorium representing the midnight line in the sky [see also line n. (1) 7.].
Associated quotations
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)22/30 : Deuyde thanne the line þt goth fro centre aryn to the hed of capricone, which lyne is cleped in the tretis of the astrelabie the midnyht line.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)26/43 : The lyne deuyded in 9 is the midnyht lyne.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[1.4] 76a : And the remnant of this lyne down to the bordure is clepid the north lyne, or ellys the lyne of mydnyȝt.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.3] 85a : Tho rekened I alle the capital lettres fro the lyne of mydnyȝt vnto this forseid lettre X, & fond that it was 9 of the clocke.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.36] 94a : Thanne wole the bygynnynge of the 3 hous sitte vpon the mydnyȝt lyne.
- (1430) Astr.Cal.in Palaeog.Soc.ser.2.172b : And þen ebbyth þe see aȝayn qwylest þe moyn comme done to þe weste poynt of owre orizonte, And þen be gynnyȝte aȝayn to floe qwylyst þe moyne come to poynte of myd nyȝte, And so decresse aȝayne to þe moyne comme to þe este poynte of owre orizonte.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.1 : In Aquary, Citherea the clere, Rynsid hir tressis like the goldin wyre, That late tofore, in fair and fresche atyre, Through Capricorn heved hir hornis bright; North northward approchit the mydnyght.
4.
(a) The middle part of the night; the ~, at (in, on, to) ~; (b) fig. the second period of life, youth; (c) as adv.: in the middle of the night.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)44/17 : Ȝe nyten hwænne Drihten cumende bið..to middre nihte oððe on hancrede.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)56/5 : Ȝe nyten..hwæder he cyme on efen oððe on middere nihte.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.7.19 : And Gedeon wente in..begynny[n]ge þe wacchis of þe mydnyȝt [WB(2): of mydnyȝt].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Tob.2.9 : But tobie..cawte þe bodies of þe slayne & hidde in his hous & in þe mydnyȝtis [WB(2): in the myddil of nyȝtis; L mediis noctibus] byriede þem.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 13.35 : Ȝe witen not whanne the lord of the hous cometh, in the euentide or in the mydnyȝt.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.153 : Al þis makeþ me on Metels to þenken Mony tyme at Midniht whon I schulde slepe.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)894 : Ruddon of þe day-rawe ros upon uȝten When merk of þe mydnyȝt moȝt no more last.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)34/1 : Þenk..what tyme Crist ches to be bore, in cold wynter at mydnyȝt.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)66/16 : But he..tok þe dede bodies and at mydniȝt biriede hem.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)202/1 : Whanne the sonne is Est in þo partyes toward paradys terrestre, it is þanne mydnyght [F my nuyt] in oure parties.
- (a1443) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xxxi : On seynt Stephenes day at nyght be twene xj and xij of the clokke at mydde nyght.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)80b : Mydnyght: Intempestus, media nox.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)404 : Before þe awter þey knelyd ychone Vnto mydnyght were all goone.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)801/47 : Hoc intempestum, Anglice, mydnythe.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)39 : Al þis lif..is to nihte iefned..Biforen euen, þe bilimpeð to children; Mid-niht, ðe bilimpeð to frumberdligges; hanecrau þe bilimpeð þowuene men; morgewile, to alde men..On midniht he wakeged þanne he frumberdlinges binimeð unðeawes.
c
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2676 : Nyth and day, mydnyth and morn, In Penyman is al hys trust.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14698 : And he þat rewls hym ryȝt, mydnyȝt, morn, and noyne, he has dole day and nyȝt.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)172/95 : Sorwyn I se..both mydnyth, mydday, and at morn.
5.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1230) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.4207 : Robertus Midniht.
- (1271) Pat.R.Hen.III583 : Henry Midnight.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)44/17 : Ȝe nyten hwænne Drihten cumende bið: on repsunge, oððe to middre nihte, oððe on hancrede, oððe on ærne mareȝen.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)56/5 : Ȝe nyten…hwæder he cyme on efen oððe on middere nihte, oððe to hancrede.
Note: Antedates sense 1.(a).