twilight

[twahy-lahyt]

noun

1. the soft, diffused light lights from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, either from daybreak to sunrise or, more commonly, from sunset to nightfall.

2. the period in the morning or, more commonly, in the evening during which this light lights prevails.

3. a terminal period, especially after full development, success, etc..

   the twilight of his life.

4. a state of uncertainty, vagueness, or gloom.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling twilight; dim; obscure.

   in the twilight hours.

2. appearing or flying at twilight; crepuscular.

twilight

/ ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt, ˈtwaɪˌlɪt /

noun

1. the soft diffused light occurring when the sun is just below the horizon, esp following sunset

2. the period in which this light occurs

3. 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)

4. any faint light

5. a period in which strength, importance, etc, are waning

   the twilight of his life

6. (modifier)

   1. of or relating to the period towards the end of the day

      the twilight shift

   2. of or relating to the final phase of a particular era

      the twilight days of the Bush presidency

   3. denoting irregularity and obscurity

      a twilight existence

Other Word Forms

• twilighty adjective
• twilit adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of twilight¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; twi- + light ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of twilight¹

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

Example Sentences

These are called the White Nights, and they happen in late June and early July, but even in April the sun did not set until eight o’clock, and twilight lasted well past that hour.

Read more on Literature

When the day ended, I’d head home, walking across the grassy lawns of the campus at twilight, then winding my way through town until I arrived.

Read more on Literature

At 36 - and with his powers seemingly on the wane - Joshua's decision to fight Paul is a far from ideal way to see out the twilight of his career, according to Bunce.

Read more on BBC

Some companies have proposed releasing this waste within the twilight zone, but the environmental consequences of such practices have remained largely unknown -- until now.

Read more on Science Daily

The people in the Blue Jays’ organization who contributed to Yesavage’s supersonic rise tell stories about their brief interactions with him as if they are recounting the origin of a veteran ace in his twilight.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dusk 
• sunset