twilight

[ twahy-lahyt ]
/ ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt /

noun

the soft, diffused light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, either from daybreak to sunrise or, more commonly, from sunset to nightfall.
the period in the morning or, more commonly, in the evening during which this light prevails.
a terminal period, especially after full development, success, etc.: the twilight of his life.
a state of uncertainty, vagueness, or gloom.

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling twilight; dim; obscure: in the twilight hours.
appearing or flying at twilight; crepuscular.

Origin of twilight

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at twi-, light1

OTHER WORDS FROM twilight

twi·light·y, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for twilight

British Dictionary definitions for twilight

twilight
/ (ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt) /

noun

the soft diffused light occurring when the sun is just below the horizon, esp following sunset Related adjective: crepuscular
the period in which this light occurs
the period of time during which the sun is a specified angular distance below the horizon (6°, 12°, and 18° for civil twilight, nautical twilight, and astronomical twilight, respectively)
any faint light
a period in which strength, importance, etc, are waning the twilight of his life
(modifier)
  1. of or relating to the period towards the end of the daythe twilight shift
  2. of or relating to the final phase of a particular erathe twilight days of the Bush presidency
  3. denoting irregularity and obscuritya twilight existence

Derived forms of twilight

twilit (ˈtwaɪˌlɪt), adjective

Word Origin for twilight

C15: literally: half-light (between day and night), from Old English twi- half + light 1