A Word With You

May 26th, 2009

noc⋅tur⋅nal

/nɒkˈtɜr nl /  [nok-tur-nl]

–adjective

1.

of or pertaining to the night (opposed to diurnal ).

 

2.

done, occurring, or coming at night: nocturnal visit.

 

3.

active at night (opposed to diurnal ): nocturnal animals.

 

4.

opening by night and closing by day, as certain flowers (opposed to diurnal ).

–noun

5.

Archaic. an astrolabe for telling time at night or for determining latitude by the position of certain stars in reference to Polaris.

Origin:
1475–85; < LL nocturnālis. See nocturn, -al 1

Ah, the creatures of the night. We mere human mortals have such a shallow view of the night, most of us sleeping through this mysterious phase of time. Are there creatures out there in the nocturne of which we have no knowledge? Do we want to know?

N I 5 ; Prep

Naturally nocturnal, Daphne dithered impatiently near the window, awaiting the fall of night and the rise of the full moon; it would be good hunting tonight.

Posted by Shari Filed in Word of the Week
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