Nightglow

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A faint, luminous effect observed in the atmosphere at night, often attributed to scattered moonlight or the glow of stars
2. A gentle radiance typically seen after sunset, created by natural phenomena or artificial light sources illuminating the surroundings
3. A soft illumination present during nocturnal hours, which may arise from various celestial bodies or ambient light conditions in the environment

Etymology: "Nightglow" is a plain compound, built from "night" and "glow" and used as a noun. Its parts are both native English words with long pedigrees: "night" comes from Old English "niht," and "glow" from Old English "glōwan," meaning to shine with heat or light. Joined together, they name a faint, diffuse light that persists in the dark hours, which is the sense the modern term carries. The compound's construction is transparent, so there is little hidden history to uncover. Its usefulness lies in the fact that English speakers could describe a particular kind of dim, ambient night light by stitching together two everyday words, without needing a borrowed or technical term.

Synonyms: airglow, skyglow