twilight
UK: ˈtwaɪlaɪt | US: ˈtwaɪlaɪt
n. 1. The soft, diffused light occurring when the sun is just below the horizon, especially in the evening or morning.
n. 2. A period or state of gradual decline or ambiguity, often metaphorical (e.g., "the twilight of his career").
n. 3. A faint or intermediate state between two distinct conditions (e.g., "twilight zone").
twilight = twi<two/half> + light<illumination>
- twi<two/half>: From Old English twi-, meaning "two" or "half," seen in words like twice or twine. Here, it suggests a duality (day/night) or partial state.
- light<illumination>: From Old English lēoht, referring to brightness. Combined, the word literally means "half-light."
Etymology Origin:
The word twilight emerged in Middle English (14th century) from Old English twi- and lēoht, capturing the transitional light between day and night. The "twi-" prefix reflects the duality of the phenomenon—neither full daylight nor complete darkness. Over time, it gained metaphorical uses to describe transitional or fading states, mirroring its literal meaning.
The forest looked magical in the soft glow of twilight.
Bats often emerge at twilight to hunt for insects.
She enjoyed her twilight years traveling the world.
The artist’s work belongs to the twilight between realism and surrealism.
The treaty was signed in the twilight of the emperor’s reign.