night
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(nīt) 
n.
n.
- The period between sunset and sunrise, especially the hours of darkness.
- This period considered as a unit of time: for two nights running.
- This period considered from its conditions: a rainy night.
- The period between dusk and midnight of a given day: either late Thursday night or early Friday morning.
- The period between evening and bedtime.
- This period considered from its activities: a night at the opera.
- This period set aside for a specific purpose: Parents' Night at school.
- The period between bedtime and morning: spent the night at a motel.
- One's sleep during this period: had a restless night.
- Nightfall: worked from morning to night.
- Darkness: vanished into the night.
- A time or condition of gloom, obscurity, ignorance, or despair: "In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning" (F. Scott Fitzgerald).
- A time or condition marked by absence of moral or ethical values: "He never would have let us go untroubled into the night of private greed" (Anthony Lewis).
- Of or relating to the night: the night air.
- Intended for use at night: a night light.
- Working during the night: the night nurse.
- Active chiefly at night: night prowlers.
- Occurring after dark: night baseball.
[Middle English, from Old English niht.]
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night
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A novel set in Eastern Europe during World War II; published in 1958.
by Elie Wiesel
Synopsis
Eliezer, a young Jewish boy from the Hungarian Transylvanian town of Sighet, survives deportation to Poland's Auschwitz extermination camp, where his mother and younger sister are murdered, and then to another camp at Buchenwald, where his father dies.
Events in History at the Time the Novel Was Written
The Novel in Focus
Events in History at the Time the Novel Takes Place
Elie Wiesel was born in Sighet in 1928. In 1944 he was deported with his family to a Nazi extermination camp whose purpose was to obliterate Europe's Jewish population. After the Allied victory in 1945, he lived in France with other young survivors of the camps. Wiesel studied psychology, literature, and philosophy at the Sorbonne University in Paris before beginning his career as a journalist in 1948. In 1958 Wiesel published Night, a vivid and chilling novelistic account of his experiences in the war.
For More Information
Braham, Randolph. The Holocaust in Hungary: Forty Years Later. New York: Columbia University Press, 1985.
Eichmann, Adolf. Life (December 5, 1960): 146.
Estess, Ted. Elie Wiesel. New York: Frederick Ungar, 1980.
Hecht, Ben. Perfidy. New York: Julian Messner, 1961.
Rosenfeld, Alvin, and Irving Greenberg. Confronting the Holocaust. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1978.
Review of Night. Times Literary Supplement (1960): 523.
Wiesel, Elie. Night. Translated by Stella Rodway. New York: Hill & Wang, 1958.
Wiesenthal, Simon. Justice Not Vengeance. New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1989.
Roget's Thesaurus:
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night
noun
- The period of time between sunset and sunrise: nighttime. See light/darkness.
adjective
- Of or occurring during the night: nightly, nocturnal. See light/darkness.
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Idioms beginning with night:
night and day
See also black as night; call it a day (night); dead of (night); different as night and day; good night; make a day (night) of it; ships that pass in the night.
Quotes About:
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Night
Quotes:
"The night is a skin pulled over the head of day that the day may be in torment."
- Djuna Barnes
"I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does."
- Jorge Luis Borges
"Shadow owes its birth to light."
- John Gay
"Night is the mother of counsels."
- George Herbert
"Night's deepest gloom is but a calm; that soothes the weary mind: The labored days restoring balm; the comfort of mankind."
- Leigh Hunt
"Whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o clock is a scoundrel."
- Samuel Johnson
See more famous quotes about Night
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This article is about the period of time. For the book by Elie Wiesel, see Night (book) . For other uses, see Night (disambiguation).
Night or nighttime is the period of time between the sunset and the sunrise when the Sun is below the horizon. This occurs after dusk. The opposite of night is day (or "daytime" to distinguish it from "day" as used for a 24-hour period). The start and end points of time of a night vary based on factors such as season, latitude, longitude and timezone.
At any given time, one side of the planet Earth is bathed in light from the Sun (the daytime) and the other side of the Earth is in the shadow caused by the Earth blocking the light of the sun. This shadow is what we call the darkness of night. Natural illumination is still provided by a combination of moonlight, planetary light, starlight, diffuse zodiacal light, gegenschein, and airglow. In some circumstances, bioluminescence, aurorae and lightning can provide some illumination. The glow provided by artificial illumination is sometimes referred to as light pollution because it can interfere with observational astronomy and ecosystems.
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Duration and geography
Nights are shorter than days on average due to two factors. Firstly, the sun is not a point, but has an apparent size of about 32 arc minutes. Secondly, the atmosphere refracts sunlight so that some of it reaches the ground when the sun is below the horizon by about 34 arc minutes. The combination of these two factors means that light reaches the ground when the center of the sun is below the horizon by about 50 arc minutes. Without these effects, day and night would be the same length at the autumnal (autumn/fall) and vernal (spring) equinoxes, the moments when the sun passes over the equator. In reality, around the equinoxes the day is almost 14 minutes longer than the night at the equator, and even more towards the poles. The summer and winter solstices mark the shortest and the longest night, respectively. The closer a location is to either the North Pole or the South Pole, the larger the range of variation in the night's length. Although equinoxes occur with a day and night close to equal length, before and after an equinox the ratio of night to day changes more rapidly in high latitude locations than in low latitude locations. In the Northern Hemisphere, Denmark has shorter nights in June than India has. In the Southern Hemisphere, Antarctica has longer nights in June than Chile has. The Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the world experience the same patterns of night length at the same latitudes, but the cycles are 6 months apart so that one hemisphere experiences long nights (winter) while the other is experiencing short nights (summer).
Between the pole and the polar circle, the variation in daylight hours is so extreme that for a portion of the summer, there is no longer an intervening night between consecutive days and in the winter there is a period that there is no intervening day between consecutive nights.
On other celestial bodies
The phenomenon of day and night is due to the rotation of a celestial body about its axis, creating the illusion of the sun rising and setting. Different bodies spin at very different rates, however. Some may spin much faster than Earth, while others spin extremely slowly, leading to very long days and nights. The planet Venus rotates once every 224.7 days – by far the slowest rotation period of any of the major planets. In contrast, the gas giant Jupiter's sidereal day is only 9 hours and 56 minutes.[1] A planet may experience large temperature variations between day and night, such as Mercury, the planet closest to the sun. This is one consideration in terms of planetary habitability or the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Impact on life
The disappearance of sunlight, the primary energy source for life on Earth, has dramatic impacts on the morphology, physiology and behavior of almost every organism. Some animals sleep during the night, while other nocturnal animals including moths and crickets are active during this time. The effects of day and night are not seen in the animal kingdom alone; plants have also evolved adaptations to cope best with the lack of sunlight during this time. For example, crassulacean acid metabolism is a unique type of carbon fixation which allows photosynthetic plants to store carbon dioxide in their tissues as organic acids during the night, which can then be used during the day to synthesize carbohydrates. This allows them to keep their stomata closed during the daytime, preventing transpiration of precious water.
As artificial lighting has improved, especially after the Industrial Revolution, night time activity has increased and become a significant part of the economy in most places. Many establishments, such as nightclubs, bars, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, gas stations, distribution facilities, and police stations now operate 24 hours a day or stay open as late as 1 or 2 a.m. Even without artificial light, moon light sometimes makes it possible to travel or work outdoors at night.
Cultural aspects
![[icon]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} |
This section requires expansion. |
Night is often associated with danger and evil, because of the psychological connection of night's all-encompassing darkness to the fear of the unknown and darkness's obstruction of a major sensory system (the sense of sight). Humans are and have been daylight creatures for at least several million of years, and nighttime is naturally associated with the vulnerability and danger for human physical survival. Criminals, animals, and other potential dangers can be concealed by darkness. Midnight has a particular importance in human imagination and culture.
The belief in magic often includes the idea that magic and magicians are more powerful at night. Seances of spiritualism are usually conducted closer to midnight. Similarly, mythical and folkloric creatures as vampires and werewolves are described as being more active at night. Ghosts are believed to wander around almost exclusively during night-time. In almost all cultures, there exist stories and legends warning of the dangers of night-time. In fact, the Saxons called the darkness of night the 'death mist'.[citation needed]
In literature, night and the lack of light are often color-associated with blackness which is historically symbolic in many cultures for villainy, non-existence, or a lack of knowledge (with the knowledge usually symbolized by light or illumination).
See also
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Night |
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Look up night in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
This audio file was created from a revision of the "Night" article dated 2006-12-10, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. (Audio help)
- Black Sun (mythology)
- Earth clock
- Earth's shadow
- Light pollution
- Midnight
- Night Aviation Regulations
- Night sky
- Nightlife
- Nocturne
- Olbers' paradox
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Night |
References
- ^ Seidelmann, P. K.; Abalakin, V. K.; Bursa, M.; Davies, M. E.; de Burgh, C.; Lieske, J. H.; Oberst, J.; Simon, J. L.; Standish, E. M.; P. C. (2001). "Report of the IAU/IAG Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements of the Planets and Satellites: 2000". HNSKY Planetarium Program. http://www.hnsky.org/iau-iag.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Translations:
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Night
Dansk (Danish)
n. - nat, aften
int. - godnat!
adj. - aftens-
idioms:
- all night hele aftenen/natten
- all night long hele aftenen/natten
- day and night dag ud og dag ind
- late night sent på aftenen/natten
- night and day nat og dag
- night club natklub
- night light natlampe
- night nurse natsygeplejerske
- night owl natugle
- night porter natportier
- night school aftenskole
- night shift nathold, natarbejde
- night time nat, nattetid, om aftenen
Nederlands (Dutch)
nacht, avond, duisternis, nachtelijk, nacht-
Français (French)
n. - nuit, soir, soirée
int. - bonne nuit
adj. - nocturne, de nuit
idioms:
- all night toute la nuit
- all night long toute la nuit
- day and night jour et nuit
- late night tard la nuit
- night and day nuit et jour
- night club night-club, boîte de nuit
- night light veilleuse
- night nurse infirmier de nuit
- night owl noctambule
- night porter portier de nuit
- night school cours du soir
- night shift (travailler) de nuit, équipe de nuit
- night time la nuit
Deutsch (German)
n. - Nacht, Abend
adj. - Nacht..., Abend..., nächtlich
int. - (ugs.) Gute Nacht!
idioms:
- all night die ganze Nacht
- all night long die ganze Nacht lang
- day and night Tag und Nacht
- late night spätes Zubettgehen
- night and day Tag und Nacht
- night club Nachtklub, Nachtlokal
- night light Nachtlicht
- night nurse Nachtschwester
- night owl Nachteule, Nachtschwärmer
- night porter Nachtportier
- night school Abendschule
- night shift Nachtschicht
- night time Nacht
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - νύχτα, βραδιά, εσπέρα, βράδυ
adj. - νυχτερινός
idioms:
- all night ολονυχτίς
- all night long όλη τη νύχτα
- at dead of night στα βάθη της νύχτας
- day and night νυχθημερόν, μέρα-νύχτα
- late night (για) αργά το βράδυ
- night and day νυχθημερόν, νύχτα-μέρα
- night club νυκτερινό κέντρο (διασκέδασης), νάιτ κλαμπ
- night light βεγιέζα
- night nurse νυχτερινή (αποκλειστική) νοσοκόμα
- night owl ξενύχτης
- night porter νυχτοφύλακας
- night school νυκτερινό σχολείο
- night shift νυκτερινή βάρδια
- night time σκοτάδι, νύκτα, διάρκεια νύχτας
Italiano (Italian)
notte, notturno
idioms:
- day and night giorno e notte
- late night ore piccole
- night and day notte e giorno
- night club notturno
- night light illuminazione notturna
- night nurse infermiera notturna
- night owl nottambulo
- night porter portiere notturno
- night school scuola serale
- night shift turno di notte
- night time notte
Português (Portuguese)
n. - noite (f), escuridão (f), ignorância (f), velhice (f)
adj. - noturno
idioms:
- all night (long) durante toda a noite
- day and night durante o dia e à noite
- late night tarde da noite
- night and day incessantemente
- night club boate, discoteca
- night light luz noturna
- night nurse enfermeira noturna
- night owl noctívago
- night porter carregador noturno
- night school escola noturna
- night shift turno da noite
- night time horário noturno
Русский (Russian)
вечер, ночь, вечерний, ночной
idioms:
- all night (long) всю ночь
- day and night днем и ночью
- late night поздний вечер
- night and day днем и ночью
- night club ночной клуб
- night light ночник
- night nurse ночная сиделка
- night owl сова (о человеке)
- night porter ночной портье
- night school вечерняя школа
- night shift ночная смена
- night time ночь, ночной
Español (Spanish)
n. - noche, anochecer, oscuridad
int. - buenas noches!
adj. - nocturno, de noche
idioms:
- all night toda la noche
- all night long toda la noche, durante toda la noche
- day and night día y noche, sin cesar, siempre
- late night acostarse tarde
- night and day noche y día, sin cesar, siempre
- night club club nocturno, sala de fiestas
- night light lamparilla, velador
- night nurse enfermera de noche
- night owl chotacabras, pájaro nocturno, trasnochador
- night porter portero de noche
- night school escuela nocturna
- night shift turno de noche
- night time noche
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - natt, kväll
adj. - kvälls-, nattlig
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
夜, 黑暗, 夜晚, 晚安, 夜晚的, 夜间的, 夜晚活动的, 夜晚使用的, 夜间工作的
idioms:
- all night 整夜
- all night long 整夜
- day and night 日日夜夜
- late night 深夜
- night and day 夜以继日
- night club 夜总会
- night light 夜间照明灯
- night nurse 夜班护士
- night owl 猫头鹰, 深夜不睡的人, 熬夜的人
- night porter 夜间门房, 夜间服务生
- night school 夜间学校, 夜校
- night shift 夜班, 夜班工人
- night time 夜间
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 夜, 黑暗, 夜晚
int. - 晚安
adj. - 夜晚的, 夜間的, 夜晚活動的, 夜晚使用的, 夜間工作的
idioms:
- all night 整夜
- all night long 整夜
- day and night 日日夜夜
- late night 深夜
- night and day 夜以繼日
- night club 夜總會
- night light 夜間照明燈
- night nurse 夜班護士
- night owl 貓頭鷹, 深夜不睡的人, 熬夜的人
- night porter 夜間門房, 夜間服務生
- night school 夜間學校, 夜校
- night shift 夜班, 夜班工人
- night time 夜間
한국어 (Korean)
n. - 밤, 어둠, 죽음, 노령
int. - 밤이다!
adj. - 밤의, 야행성의
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 夜, 夜間の, 暗やみ, 闇
idioms:
- all night (long) 一晩中
- night and day 日夜
- night club ナイトクラブ
- night light 終夜灯
- night nurse 夜間勤務看護婦
- night owl 夜ふかしをする人, ヨタカの類の鳥
- night porter 夜間のボーイ
- night school 夜学校
- night shift 夜勤, 夜勤者
- night time 夜
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) الليل (صفه) ليلي
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - חשיכה, לילה
int. - ברכת "לילה טוב"
adj. - של לילה, שקרה בלילה
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Literature and Its Times © 1997 Joyce Moss and George Wilson © 2007 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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