Dictionary

sevennight en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɛvənˌnɑɪt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English seven-night, sevenight, sevenyght [and other forms], from Late Old English seofeniht (compare seofonnihte (“seven days old; seven days long”, adjective)), from seofon (“seven”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *septḿ̥ (“seven”)) + niht (“night; day (when computing spans of time)”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts (“night”)). Doublet of sennight.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, archaic, obsolete) Alternative form of sennight, a week.
   alt of sennight
   • VVearie Seu'nights, nine times nine, Shall he dvvindle, peake, and pine: […] c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 132, column 1:
   • The Holy Houſel ought to be kept vvith great Diligence and not be permitted to be ſtale, but another be alvvays hallovved anevv for Sick Men in about a Seven-night, or Fortnight, ſo as that it may not be muſty at leaſt. 1720, Elfric [i.e., Ælfric of Abingdon]; John Johnson, “A.D. DCCCCLVII. Elfric’s Canons.”, in A Collection of All the Ecclesiastical Laws, Canons, Answers, Or Rescripts, with Other Memorials Concerning the Government, Discipline, and Worship of the Church of England, […], 1st part, London: […] Robert Knaplock […], and Samuel Ballard […], →OCLC:
   • VVhat doctrine is vvritten for us in the eighth chapter of the firſt book of Kings, I did partly ſhevv unto you, moſt honourable audience, this day ſeven-night, of that good man, father Samuel, that good Judge, hovv good a man he vvas, vvhat helpers and coadjutors he took unto him, to have his office vvell diſcharged. 1549 April 21 (Gregorian calendar), Hugh Latimer, “Sermon X. Being the Sixth Sermon Preached before King Edward VI. April the Tvvelfth.”, in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, Master Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester. […], volume I, London: […] J. Scott, […], published 1758, →OCLC, page 175:
   • And Mrs. Jevvkes tells me, every one names Thurſday come Sev'nnight for our Nuptials. 1741, [Samuel Richardson], “[The Journal Continued.] Monday.”, in Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 153:

Forms