evening English · revision 2797

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈiːv.nɪŋ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|evening]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|ǣfnung|t=the coming of evening, sunset]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) a verbal noun from [[m|ang|ǣfnian|t=to become evening, grow toward night]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|ang|ǣfen|t=evening]], the source of [[eve]] and the noun [[even]], with the suffix [[-ing]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The coming on of evening, the process of growing dusk, the time around sunset: about 1000.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The SOED marks this sense obsolete since the mid-16th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a synonym of ''even'', the close of the day from sunset to bedtime, it dates from the mid-15th century (about 1440 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and it has now replaced the older word in this sense.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Another Old English noun for evening was cwildtid.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense, the declining period of a life, is from 1614.^(OED 1989) In dialect and local American use evening means the afternoon, from 1788.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) An evening spent in a particular way, as a party, is from 1870,^(OED 1989) and ''evening'' for “good evening” from 1912.^(OED 1989) ''Evening star'' is from 1535, in Coverdale, replacing Middle English even sterre and Old English ǣfensteorra.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – the coming of dusk.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1440 – the time from sunset to bedtime.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1535 – ''evening star''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1614 – the decline of life.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1788 – afternoon (dialect, US).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1870 – a social evening.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1912 – ''evening'', a greeting.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The time of day between late afternoon and night, or from [[sunset]] to bedtime.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A later period, especially the last part of a person's life; the [[decline]]: ''the evening of his career''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An event held in the evening: ''a musical evening''.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+ # ''(regional)'' The afternoon.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[eveningwear]]

+ * [[yesterevening]]

+ * [[evening dress]]

+ * [[evening gown]]

+ * [[evening grosbeak]]

+ * [[evening prayer]]

+ * [[evening primrose]]

+ * [[evening star]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[eve]]

+ * [[even]]

+ * [[evensong]]

+ * [[eventide]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}