Nightlight

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈnaɪtˌlaɪt/

Definitions

1. A small lamp designed to provide dim illumination during nighttime, helping to see in the dark without disturbing sleep
2. A low-intensity light often used in bedrooms or hallways to offer comfort and visibility at night
3. A gentle light source that offers faint brightness for safety or reassurance in dark spaces

Etymology: A nightlight is about as transparent as compounds get: a small, dim lamp meant to burn through the dark hours. Its parts are "night" and "light," both of Old English ancestry, joined together to name a light kept on for the night rather than one used for reading or work. The pairing reflects a practical habit, since a faint lamp was valued for showing the way to a bathroom or calming a child without the glare of a full room light. The word is a plain English compound, so there is no hidden foreign root or dramatic shift in sense to uncover. The meaning has stayed close to its literal parts, with the "night" element defining the purpose of the light and "light" naming the object itself.

Synonyms: lamp, light