Middle English Dictionary Entry
twī̆light n.
Entry Info
| Forms | twī̆light n. Also twielighte, tweiliȝt. |
| Etymology | From light n.; cp. MDu. tweelicht, twilicht, MLG twelicht. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The dim, suffused light of early morning or late evening, twilight, half-light; also, the time immediately preceding sunrise or following sunset.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3081 : It drow to day, As þei wel seie by þe morwe graye..Atwen þe tweyliȝt and þe rody morwe Þe toke her leue.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3095 : Whan þat þe rowes and þe raies rede Estward to vs ful erly gonne sprede, Evene at þe tweyliȝt in þe dawnyng..Þe larke of custom gynneth syng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2670,2677 : Whan Esperus..in þe weste raþest gan appere, Whan þe twylyȝt, wiþ a pale chere, In maner morneth þe absence of þe sonne, And nyȝt aprocheþ..Þe same tyme..Þat clerkis calle Crepusculum at eve, Which..twyliȝt hatte, for it is a mene Of day and nyȝt, departinge hem betwene, Fully nouþer, but of boþe meynt, Of [read: Or] þe heuene be..depeynt With briȝt sterris in þe Euenynge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)505 : Twye lyghte [Win: Twyelyȝt], be-fore the day: Diluculum;..a-fore þe nyȝhte: Crepusculum; Twylyghte, be-twyx þe day and þe nyghte, or nyghte and þe day: Hesperus.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)596 : Hit drowe to the nyght..while the twilyght and the rowes rede Of Phebus lyght wer deaurat a-lyte.