Dawn Is Related to the Word Day
Dawn is the first light of morning. The word was rebuilt from an older verb meaning to become day.
Dawn is the first appearance of light in the morning. The noun is younger than the verb: Old English had *dagian*, to become day, and the noun *dawn* was built back from it in the 1500s. The root is the same as *day*. Astronomers count three dawns: astronomical twilight when the first faint light appears, nautical twilight when the horizon becomes visible, and civil twilight when there is enough light to work outdoors.
- First light. *At dawn.*
- To begin to appear. *A new era dawned.*
- To become clear. *It dawned on me.*
- Dusk — the opposite. *Dusk.*
- Old English — *dagian*, to become day. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | dawn | Dawn. |
| Verb | dawn | Dawning. |
| Past | dawned | Dawned. |
| Related | day | Day. |
| Opposite | dusk | Dusk. |
- They set off at dawn.Time.
- It dawned on her slowly.Realisation.
- Dawn and day share a root.Etymology.
The three twilights
- Astronomical twilight — the sun 18 degrees below the horizon, first faint light
- Nautical twilight — 12 degrees, the horizon becomes visible at sea
- Civil twilight — 6 degrees, enough light for outdoor work
- Sunrise — the sun's edge crosses the horizon
- The same three run backwards at the other end of the day
A back-formation from Middle English *dawning*, from Old English *dagian*, to become day.
Are dawn and day related?
Yes. Dawn was built back from an Old English verb meaning to become day, and shares the same root.
What is the difference between dawn and sunrise?
Dawn is the first light before the sun appears. Sunrise is the moment the sun's edge crosses the horizon.