Dictionary

predawn en · ADJ

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English dawn English predawn From pre- + dawn.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Before dawn.
   • Sparks erupted from the bottom of a FedEx cargo jet as it made a predawn emergency landing Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport, officials said. 2020 August 19, Ray Sanchez, Cheri Mossburg, “FedEx cargo jet makes predawn emergency landing in Los Angeles”, in CNN, archived from the original on 18 Nov 2025:
   • A thick layer of mist, gray and ghostly in the predawn glow, emanated from the water, as if witchfire burned upon the surface of the liquid. 2008, Christopher Paolini, “Assault on Helgrind”, in Brisingr, page 38:

Antonyms

postdawn

Coordinates

postmidnight · wee hour

Translations (2)

pl przed świtem (before dawn) · el αξημέρωτος (before dawn)

predawn en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English dawn English predawn From pre- + dawn.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The period immediately preceding dawn.

Forms

Antonyms

postdawn · predusk

Coordinates

wee hours

Relateds

early morning

Translations (6)

nmn kxʻāo (period before the rising of the sun) · nv hayoołkááł (period before the rising of the sun) · nl voor de dageraad (period before the rising of the sun) · es el período antes del amanecer (period before the rising of the sun) · fr avant l'aurore (period before the rising of the sun) · pl przedświt (period before the rising of the sun)