moonlight en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmunˌlaɪt/ (General-American)
- audio -
- /ˈmuːnlaɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- mo͞on'līt (General-American)
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s Proto-Germanic *mēnô Proto-West Germanic *mānō Old English mōna Middle English mone Proto-Indo-European *lewk-der. Proto-Indo-European *lewk-to-s Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz Proto-West Germanic *leuht Old English lēoht Middle English light Middle English moonelight English moonlight The noun is derived from Middle English moonelight, monelight, mone lyght (“light of the moon; (heraldry) pattern of moons on the field of a heraldic banner”), from mon, mone (“moon”) (from Old English mōna (“moon”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s (“moon; month”)) + light (“light”) (from Old English lēoht (“light”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright; to see; to shine”)). By surface analysis, moon + light. The verb is derived from the noun. Verb sense 1.1 (“to secretly leave premises without paying the rent”) is a back-formation from moonlight flit, while verb sense 1.2 (“to make a night-time attack on a tenant farmer”) is probably a back-formation from moonlighter. cognates * Dutch maanlicht * German Mondlicht * Scots muinlicht, munelicht * West Frisian moanneljocht
Meanings
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(also, attributive, uncountable, usually) The light reflected from the Moon, which seems to emanate from it.
The night was very quiet. It was always quiet except on moonlight nights. Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them. […] On a moonlight night it would be different. The happy voices of children playing in open fields would then be heard. And perhaps those not so young would be playing in pairs in less open places, and old men and women would remember their youth.
1958 June 17, Chinua Achebe, chapter 2, in Things Fall Apart, New York, N.Y.: Astor-Honor, published 1959, →OCLC, part 1, page 11:It [the Arkenstone] was as if a globe had been filled with moonlight and hung before them in a net woven of the glint of frosty stars.
1937 September 21, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel] Tolkien, “A Thief in the Night”, in The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again, revised edition, New York, N.Y.: Ballantine Books, published February 1966 (August 1967 printing), →OCLC, page 257:It was the pensive oysterman that saw a lovely maid, / Upon a moonlight evening, a-sitting in the shade;
1830, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ballad of the Oysterman, lines 5–6:'Tis eight o’clock,—a clear March night, / The moon is up,—the sky is blue, / The owlet, in the moonlight air, / Shouts from nobody knows where; […]
1798, [William Wordsworth], “The Idiot Boy”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], →OCLC, page 149:If you vvill patiently daunce in our Round, / And ſee our Moonelight Reuelles, goe vvith vs: / If not, ſhunne me, and I vvill ſpare your haunts.
c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], signature C, recto:Than Ripheus him ſelf adioynd, & myghty moſt with launce / Came Iphitus onto my ſide, by monelight met by chaunce.
1555 July (date written; Gregorian calendar), Virgil, “The Seconde Booke”, in Thomas Phaer, transl., The Seuen First Bookes of the Eneidos of Virgill, Conuerted in Englishe Meter […], London: […] Ihon Kyngston, for Richard Jugge, […], published 7 June 1558 (Gregorian calendar), →OCLC, signature [D.iv.], verso:He found him in a little moonlight room, / Pale, lattic'd, chill, and silent as a tomb.
1819, John Keats, “The Eve of St. Agnes”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, stanza XIII, page 89:Let's go on a moonlight swim / Far away from the crowd / All alone upon the beach / Our lips and our arms / Close within each other's reach / We'll be on a moonlight swim
1957 July 29, “Moonlight Swim [77169X45; YW15609]”, Sylvia Dee (lyrics), Ben Weisman (music)performed by Nick Noble, [Chicago, Ill.]: Mercury Record Corporation, →OCLC:This choleric gentleman, vvho vvas a country ſquire, no ſooner ſavv his rival, than he began to brandiſh his cudgel in a menacing poſture, […] This attitude, and the ſight of the blade vvhich glittened by moonlight in his face, checked in ſome ſort, the ardour of his aſſailant, […]
1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “He Atchieves an Adventure at the Assembly, and Quarrels with His Governor”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume I, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 204:They were still under the white-plum tree and their faces were touching except for a pale, thin ray of moonlight between.
1925, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, chapter VI, in The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 129:What say you, gentlemen, shall we have a moonlight hunt?
1889, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Journey in the Wilderness (Continued)”, in The Master of Ballantrae. […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, […], →OCLC, page 325:The night comes on, vve, eager to purſue / The Combat ſtil, and they aſham'd to leave: / Till the laſt ſtreaks of dying day vvithdrevv, / And doubtful Moon-light did our rage deceive.
1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, stanza 68, page 18:Hovv ſvveete the Moone-light ſleeps vpon this banke, / Heere vvill vve ſit, and let the ſounds of muſicke / Creepe in our eares ſoft ſtillneſſe, and the night / Become the tutches of ſvveete harmony: […]
c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], signature [I4], recto:The windows were curtainless, and the yellow moonlight, flooding in through the diamond panes, enabled one to see even colours, whilst it softened the wealth of dust which lay over all and disguised in some measure the ravages of time and the moth.
1897, Bram Stoker, “Jonathan Harker’s Journal—continued”, in Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC, chapter III, page 39:[S]he passed away noiselessly, and the moonlight kissed the wall which her shadow had dimmed.
1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], “Further Communications on Business”, in Shirley. A Tale. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 39:Meronym: moonbeam
- (archaic, uncountable, usually) The silvery colour of the light reflected by the Moon.
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(UK, archaic, dialectal, uncountable, usually) Synonym of moonshine (“illegally produced or smuggled spirits”).
A fast-sailing lugger will soon bring you there though, snug stowed under hatches, like a cask of moonlight.
1824 June, [Walter Scott], “Narrative of Darsie Latimer, Continued”, in Redgauntlet, […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 163:Barter'd for game from chace or warren won, / Yon cask holds moonlight, run when moon was none; / And late-snatch'd spoils lie stow'd in hutch apart, / To wait the associate higgler's evening cart.
1809, [Walter Scott], “Fragments, which Originally Appeared in the Edinburgh Annual Register for 1809. The Poacher.”, in The Bridal of Triermain, or The Vale of St John. In Three Cantos, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for John Ballantyne and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; and Gale, Curtis, and Fenner; […], published 1813, →OCLC, pages 225–226:
- (countable, informal, usually) Chiefly in to do a moonlight: short for moonlight flit (“an act of secretly leaving premises without paying the rent, supposedly at night by the light of the Moon; hence, any act of escaping at night”).
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable, usually) A picture of a scene illuminated by light reflected by the Moon.
- (US, countable, obsolete, rare, uncountable, usually) A journey made at night when the Moon is shining.
- (US, countable, obsolete, qualifier:university slang, uncountable, usually) An oratorical competition; also, a participant in such a competition.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| moonlights | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
starlight · daylight · sunlight
Deriveds
moonlight blue · moonlight school · moonlight tower · moonlight flit · moonlight-and-magnolia · do a moonlight flit · moonlighty · moonlight and roses · moonlight requisition · stink like a mackerel in the moonlight
Hypernyms
electromagnetic radiation · light · radiation · EMR · natural light · energy
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (154)
yao lwesi class 11 (light reflected from the Moon) · ko 달빛 (light reflected from the Moon) · ebk sorag (light reflected from the Moon) · km ពន្លឺខែ (light reflected from the Moon) · sh ме̏сечина (light reflected from the Moon) · gu ચાંદની (light reflected from the Moon) · uk мі́сячне світло́ (light reflected from the Moon) · kn ಚಂದ್ರಿಕೆ (light reflected from the Moon) · tr ay ışığı (light reflected from the Moon) · non tunglskin (light reflected from the Moon) · ko 월색 (light reflected from the Moon) · fa-ira مَهْتاب (light reflected from the Moon) · cmn 月色 (light reflected from the Moon) · fi kuunvalo (light reflected from the Moon) · pl światło księżyca ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · enm moonelight (light reflected from the Moon) · kn ಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸ್ನಾ (light reflected from the Moon) · rif taziri (light reflected from the Moon) · ce беттса (light reflected from the Moon) · nl maneschijn (light reflected from the Moon) · njo-jgl itaya (light reflected from the Moon) · fur clâr di lune (light reflected from the Moon) · et kuupaiste (light reflected from the Moon) · et kuu valgus ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · hi चन्द्रिका (light reflected from the Moon) · de Mondlicht (light reflected from the Moon) · ksw လါကပီၤ (light reflected from the Moon) · ro clar de lună (light reflected from the Moon) · fa-ira مَهْشید (light reflected from the Moon) · nn måneskin (light reflected from the Moon) · th แสงจันทร์ (light reflected from the Moon) · hi चंद्रप्रभा (light reflected from the Moon) · sv tungelsken (light reflected from the Moon) · hi शशिप्रभा (light reflected from the Moon) · os мӕйрухс (light reflected from the Moon) · sh мје̏сечина (light reflected from the Moon) · ca llum de lluna (light reflected from the Moon) · tg маҳтоб (light reflected from the Moon) · sco munelicht ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · kn ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳು (light reflected from the Moon) · lv mēness gaisma f du (light reflected from the Moon) · bn চাঁদের আলো (light reflected from the Moon) · pl światło księżyca (light reflected from the Moon) · nci mētztōnallōtl (light reflected from the Moon) · cmn 月光 (light reflected from the Moon) · ja 月の光 (light reflected from the Moon) · wyi meene-an-toon (light reflected from the Moon) · bg лу́нна светлина́ (light reflected from the Moon) · acw ضوء القمر (light reflected from the Moon) · mi atarau (light reflected from the Moon) · roa-opt lũar (light reflected from the Moon) · hu holdfény (light reflected from the Moon) · lt mėnesiena (light reflected from the Moon) · eo lunlumo (light reflected from the Moon) · de Mondenschein (light reflected from the Moon) · kk айдың жарығы (light reflected from the Moon) · my လသာခြင်း (light reflected from the Moon) · te చంద్రిక (light reflected from the Moon) · ur چان٘دْنی (light reflected from the Moon) · izh kuuvalo (light reflected from the Moon) · sa चन्द्रिका (light reflected from the Moon) · ka მთვარის შუქი (light reflected from the Moon) · enm monelight (light reflected from the Moon) · eu ilargite (light reflected from the Moon) · hi चंद्रिका (light reflected from the Moon) · sv månljus (light reflected from the Moon) · mk месечева светлина (light reflected from the Moon) · lo ແສງຈັນ (light reflected from the Moon) · lo ຈັນທະໂລກ (light reflected from the Moon) · vi ánh trăng (light reflected from the Moon) · gl luar (light reflected from the Moon) · fo mánalýsi (light reflected from the Moon) · tl liwanag ng buwan (light reflected from the Moon) · sdh مانگەشەو (light reflected from the Moon) · dsb swětło majsec(k)a (light reflected from the Moon) · nci mētztōnalli (light reflected from the Moon) · sh mjȅsečina (light reflected from the Moon) · cy lloergan (light reflected from the Moon) · fi kuutamo (light reflected from the Moon) · nb måneskinn (light reflected from the Moon) · is tunglskin (light reflected from the Moon) · ga solas na gealaí (light reflected from the Moon) · acw نور القمر (light reflected from the Moon) · mi ahoroa (light reflected from the Moon) · bn মাহতাব (light reflected from the Moon) · fi kuutamoinen ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · ms cahaya bulan (light reflected from the Moon) · id cahaya bulan (light reflected from the Moon) · sv månsken (light reflected from the Moon) · kj omuedi class 3 (light reflected from the Moon) · lo ແສງເດືອນ (light reflected from the Moon) · gl lueiro ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · ko 월광 (light reflected from the Moon) · cy golau lleuad (light reflected from the Moon) · eo lunbrilo (light reflected from the Moon) · km ចន្ទ្ររស្មី (light reflected from the Moon) · gl aluarado ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · ovd tunggelliuos (light reflected from the Moon) · nv ooljééʼ (light reflected from the Moon) · fr clair de lune (light reflected from the Moon) · ilo raniag ti bulan (light reflected from the Moon) · it chiaro di luna (light reflected from the Moon) · dsb mjasecne swětło (light reflected from the Moon) · nv ooljééʼ bee adinídíín (light reflected from the Moon) · kn ಕೌಮುದಿ (light reflected from the Moon) · ja 月光 (light reflected from the Moon) · hu holdvilág (light reflected from the Moon) · ryu 月ぬ光 (light reflected from the Moon) · hi महताब (light reflected from the Moon) · ks پرٛاگاش (light reflected from the Moon) · fi kuunharmaa (silvery colour of the light reflected by the Moon) · el σεληνόφως (light reflected from the Moon) · nl maanlicht (light reflected from the Moon) · ta நிலவொளி (light reflected from the Moon) · et kuusära ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · pt luar (light reflected from the Moon) · ur مَہْتاب (light reflected from the Moon) · cs měsíční svit (light reflected from the Moon) · la lūx (light reflected from the Moon) · enm mone lyght (light reflected from the Moon) · as জোনাক (light reflected from the Moon) · be месяцо́вае святло́ (light reflected from the Moon) · hi ज्योत्स्ना (light reflected from the Moon) · tr mehtap (light reflected from the Moon) · ta வெண்ணிலவு (light reflected from the Moon) · de Mondschein (light reflected from the Moon) · es lunada (light reflected from the Moon) · ro lumină de lună (light reflected from the Moon) · km ចន្ទាភា (light reflected from the Moon) · km ចន្ទរង្សី (light reflected from the Moon) · hi चाँदनी (light reflected from the Moon) · ja 月明かり (light reflected from the Moon) · ar ضَوْء قَمَر (light reflected from the Moon) · sco munelicht (light reflected from the Moon) · hi कौमुदी (light reflected from the Moon) · es claro de luna (light reflected from the Moon) · ru лу́нный свет (light reflected from the Moon) · km ចន្ទា (light reflected from the Moon) · az mahtab (light reflected from the Moon) · sh mȅsečina (light reflected from the Moon) · dz ཟླ་འོད (light reflected from the Moon) · ru лу́нное сия́ние (light reflected from the Moon) · da måneskin (light reflected from the Moon) · et kuuvalgus (light reflected from the Moon) · te కౌముది (light reflected from the Moon) · ja 月色 (light reflected from the Moon) · kw lorgan (light reflected from the Moon) · fi kuun valaisema ((attributive) illuminated by the light from the moon) · es luz de luna (light reflected from the Moon) · af maanskyn (light reflected from the Moon) · sk mesačné svetlo (light reflected from the Moon) · te వెన్నెల (light reflected from the Moon) · be месяцо́вае сьвятло́ (light reflected from the Moon) · ckb مانگەشەو (light reflected from the Moon)