Nighttimes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The periods of darkness that occur after sunset and before sunrise; the times dedicated to rest or sleep during the darker hours of the day; the experiences or activities that take place after dusk, often related to nighttime social or cultural events
2. The hours when the sky is dark, typically following the end of daylight; the moments set aside for sleeping or winding down during these dark hours; the various happenings that unfold during the evening, including recreation, socializing, or reflection
3. The phases of the day defined by the absence of sunlight, generally involving rest and relaxation; intervals marked by increased social activities or personal reflection under the cover of darkness; the opportunities for night engagements that characterize evening hours

Etymology: "Nighttimes" is simply the plural of "nighttime," so its history is that of the singular. "Nighttime" was formed in Middle English by joining "night" and "time," two words that had been English for centuries. The same pairing shows up in the other Germanic languages: Dutch "nachttijd," German "Nachtzeit," and Danish and Swedish "nattetid" all mean the same thing, which suggests the compound was a natural construction across the family rather than a single borrowing. Middle English also had a near-twin, "nyȝter tyme," which came from Old Norse "náttartími" or "nætrtími." Old Norse speakers, brought into close contact with English communities in the north and east of England, contributed a number of everyday words, and this one appears to have run alongside the native compound for a time.

Synonyms: nights, evenings