noon
UK: nuːn | US: nuːn
n. the middle of the day; 12 o'clock in the daytime
noon = no<9th hour> + on<noun suffix>
- no (from Old English nōn, originally meaning the "9th hour" (3 PM) in the Roman timekeeping system, derived from Latin nona hora "ninth hour")
- on (a nominal suffix, no distinct meaning in modern English)
Etymology Origin:
The word "noon" has an intriguing shift in meaning. In ancient Roman and early Christian timekeeping, the day was divided into 12 daylight hours, with nona hora ("ninth hour") referring to 3 PM. Over time, the term shifted to denote midday (12 PM) in medieval Europe, likely due to changes in monastic prayer schedules. The spelling simplified from Old English nōn to modern "noon," while its meaning moved earlier in the day.
We agreed to meet at noon sharp.
The sun is directly overhead at noon in equatorial regions.
She takes a short nap every day around noon.
The clock struck noon, and the workers headed for lunch.
By noon, the fog had completely lifted.