morning (n.) mid-13c., morn, morewen (see morn) + suffix -ing, on pattern of evening. Originally the time just before sunrise. As an adjective from 1530s. Morning after in reference to a hangover is from 1884; in reference to a type of contraception, attested from 1867. Morning sickness as a symptom of pregnancy is from 1793 (Old English had morgenwlætung). Morning glory is from 1814, in reference to the time the flowers open. Morning star "Venus in the east before sunrise" is from 1530s (O.E. had morgensteorra "morn-star"). As a greeting, short for good morning, attested by 1895. matins canonical hour, mid-13c., from O.Fr. matines (12c.), from L.L. matutinas (nom. matutinæ) "morning prayers," originally matutinas vigilias "morning watches," from L. matutinus "of or in the morning," associated with Matuta, Roman dawn goddess (see manana). The Old English word was uht-sang, from uhte "daybreak." morgen (n.) old measure of land in Holland (hence also in South Africa and colonial New York and New Jersey), roughly two acres, probably identical with Du. morgen "morning" (see morn) and meaning "the amount of land one man can plow in a morning." phosphor (n.) "morning star," 1630s, from L. phosphorus "the morning star" (see phosphorus). Meaning "anything phosphorescent" is from 1705. morganatic (adj.) 1727, from Fr. morganatique (18c.), from M.L. matrimonium ad morganaticam "marriage of the morning," probably from O.H.G. *morgangeba (M.H.G. morgengabe) "morning gift," corresponding to O.E. morgengifu (see morn + gift). In an unequal marriage between a man of royal blood and a common woman, this was a gift traditionally given to the wife on the morning after consummation, representing the only share she and her children may claim in the husband's estate. Also known as left-handed marriage, because the groom gives the bride his left hand instead of his right, but sometimes this latter term is used of a class of marriage (especially in Germany) where the spouse of inferior rank is not elevated, but the children inherit rights of succession. Related: Morganatically. matinee "afternoon performance," 1848, from Fr. matinée (musicale), from matinée "morning" (with a sense here of "daytime"), from matin "morning," from O.Fr. matines (see matins). Originally as a French word in English; it lost its foreignness by late 19c. Lucifer O.E. Lucifer "Satan," also "morning star," from L. Lucifer "morning star," lit. "light-bringing," from lux (gen. lucis) "light" (see light (n.)) + ferre "carry" (see infer). Belief that it was the proper name of Satan began with its use in Bible to translate Gk. Phosphoros, which translates Heb. Helel ben Shahar in Isaiah xiv:12 -- "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" [KJV] Because of the mention of a fall from Heaven, the verse was interpreted by Christians as a reference to Satan, even though it is literally a reference to the King of Babylon (cf. Isaiah xiv:4). Lucifer match "friction match" is from 1831. Adjectival forms include Luciferian, Luciferine, Luciferous. There was a noted Bishop Lucifer of Cagliari in Sardinia in the 4th century, regarded locally as a saint. matutinal (adj.) 1650s, from L. matutinalis "pertaining to morning," from matutinus "of or pertaining to the morning," from Matuta, name of the Roman goddess of dawn, related to maturus “early” (see mature (v.)). Earlier in same sense was matutine (mid-15c.). Related: Matutinally. Korea from Chinese Gao li, name of a dynasty founded 918, lit. "high serenity." Japanese Chosen is from Korean Choson, lit. "land of morning calm," from cho "morning" + son "calm." Related: Korean (1610s). morn (n.) contracted from M.E. morwen, from O.E. (Mercian) margen (dat. marne), earlier morgen (dat. morgne) "morning, forenoon, sunrise," from P.Gmc. *murgana- "morning" (cf. O.S. morgan, O.Fris. morgen, M.Du. morghen, Du. morgen, O.H.G. morgan, Ger. Morgen, Goth. maurgins), from PIE *merk-, perhaps from root *mer- "to blink, twinkle" (cf. Lith. mirgeti "to blink"). phosphorus (n.) "substance or organism that shines of itself," 1640s, from L. phosphorus "light-bringing," also "the morning star" (a sense attested in English from 1620), from Gk. Phosphoros "morning star," lit. "torchbearer," from phos "light," contraction of phaos "light, daylight" (related to phainein "to show, to bring to light;" see phantasm) + phoros "bearer," from pherein "to carry" (see infer). As the name of a non-metallic chemical element, it is recorded from 1680, originally one among several substances so called; the word used exclusively of the element from c.1750. It was discovered in 1669 by Henning Brand, merchant and alchemist of Hamburg, who derived it from urine. Lavoisier demonstrated it was an element in 1777. According to Flood, "It is the first element whose discoverer is known." lauds (n.) mid-14c., from Old French; morning Church service in which psalms of praise to God (Psalms 148-150) are sung (see laud). nacho (n.) according to "The Dallas Morning News" [Oct. 22, 1995], named for restaurant cook Ignacio Anaya, who invented the dish in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras in 1943. levee (n.2) "morning assembly held by a prince or king (upon rising from bed)," 1670s, from Fr. lever "a raising," noun use of verb meaning "to raise" (see levee (n.1)). Easter O.E. Easterdæg, from Eastre (Northumbrian Eostre), from P.Gmc. *Austron, a goddess of fertility and spring, probably originally of sunrise whose feast was celebrated at the spring equinox, from *austra-, from PIE *aus- "to shine" (especially of the dawn). Bede says Anglo-Saxon Christians adopted her name and many of the celebratory practices for their Mass of Christ's resurrection. Ultimately related to east. Almost all neighboring languages use a variant of Latin Pasche to name this holiday. Easter egg attested by 1825, earlier pace egg (1610s). Easter bunny attested by 1904 in children's lessons; Easter rabbit is by 1888; the paganish customs of Easter seem to have grown popular c. 1900; before that they were limited to German immigrants. If the children have no garden, they make nests in the wood-shed, barn, or house. They gather colored flowers for the rabbit to eat, that it may lay colored eggs. If there be a garden, the eggs are hidden singly in the green grass, box-wood, or elsewhere. On Easter Sunday morning they whistle for the rabbit, and the children imagine that they see him jump the fence. After church, on Easter Sunday morning, they hunt the eggs, and in the afternoon the boys go out in the meadows and crack eggs or play with them like marbles. Or sometimes children are invited to a neighbor's to hunt eggs. [Phebe Earle Gibbons, "Pennsylvania Dutch," Philadelphia 1882] quarterback (n.) in U.S. football, 1876, from quarter (n.) + back (n.); so called from his position on the field at the start of play between the halfback and the center. As a verb from 1945. Figurative sense from 1952. Monday morning quarterback is 1932 (n.), 1972 (v.); originally pro football player slang for sportswriters (professional football games typically played on Sundays). pedantic (adj.) formed in English c.1600, from pedant + -ic. The French equivalent is pédantesque. Perhaps first attested in John Donne's "Sunne Rising," where he bids the morning sun let his love and him linger in bed, telling it, "Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide Late schooleboyes." Related: Pedantical (1580s); pedantically. Thalidomide 1958, from "phthalimidoglutarimide," based on abbreviated form of naphthalene; a morning-sickness drug responsible for severe birth defects in Europe from 1956 to 1961, when it was withdrawn. It was never approved for use in America thanks to the efforts of Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig. Thalidomide baby is attested from 1962. weekend (n.) also week-end, 1630s, from week + end (n.). Originally a northern word (referring to the period from Saturday noon to Monday morning); it became general after 1878. As an adjective, "only on weekends," it is recorded from 1935. Long weekend attested from 1900; in reference to Great Britain in the period between the world wars, 1944. prow (n.) 1550s, from M.Fr. proue, from It. (Genoese) prua, from V.L. *proda, by dissimilation from L. prora "prow," from Gk. proira, related to pro "before, forward," proi "early in the morning." good day salutation, late 14c., short for have a good day (c.1200). Good morning is c.1400, gode morwene. Good night, also goodnight, is late 14c.; as an exclamation of surprise, from 1893. peignoir (n.) "lady's loose robe," 1835, from Fr. peignoir, from M.Fr. peignouoir "garment worn over the shoulders while combing the hair" (16c.), from peigner "to comb the hair," from L. pectinare, from pecten (gen. pectinis) "a comb," related to pectere "to comb" (see fight (v.)). A gown put on while coming from the bath; misapplied in English to a woman's morning gown. twilight (n.) late 14c. (twilighting), a compound of twi- + light (n.) Cognate with Du. tweelicht (16c.), Ger. zwielicht. Exact connotation of twi- in this word is unclear, but it appears to refer to "half" light, rather than the fact that twilight occurs twice a day. Cf. also Skt. samdhya "twilight," lit. "a holding together, junction," M.H.G. zwischerliecht, lit. "tweenlight." Originally and most commonly in English with reference to evening twilight but occasionally used of morning twilight (a sense first attested mid-15c.). Figurative extension is first recorded c.1600. sparrow (n.) small brownish-gray bird, O.E. spearwa, from P.Gmc. *sparwan (cf. O.N. spörr, O.H.G. sparo, Ger. Sperling, Goth. sparwa), from PIE *sper- (cf. Cornish frau "crow;" O.Prus. spurglis "sparrow;" Gk. spergoulos "small field bird," psar "starling"). Sparrowhawk is attested from c.1400. Sparrowfarts (1886) was Cheshire slang for "very early morning." tomorrow late 13c., to morewe, from O.E. to morgenne "on (the) morrow," from to "at, on" (see to) + morgenne, dative of morgen "morning" (see morn). Written as two words until 16c., then as to-morrow until early 20c. ere (prep.) c.1200, from O.E. ær (adv., conj., & prep.) "soon, before (in time)," from P.Gmc. *airiz, comparative of *air "early" (cf. O.S., O.Fris., O.H.G. er, Du. eer; Ger. eher "earlier;" O.N. ar "early;" Goth. air "early," airis "earlier"), from PIE *ayer- "day, morning" (cf. Avestan ayar "day;" Gk. eerios "at daybreak," ariston "breakfast"). The adverb erstwhile retains the Old English superlative ærest "earliest." manana from Sp. mañana, "tomorrow," from cras manñana, lit. "tomorrow early," from V.L. *maneana "early," from L. mane "in the morning," from PIE *ma- "good," with notion of "occurring at a good time, timely, early" (cf. matins; and see mature (v.)). mature (v.) late 14c., "encourage suppuration;" mid-15c. "bring to maturity," from L. maturare "to ripen, bring to maturity," from maturus "ripe, timely, early," related to manus "good" and mane "early, of the morning," from PIE root *ma- "good," with derivatives meaning "occurring at a good moment, timely, seasonable, early." Meaning "come or bring to maturity" is from 1620s. The financial sense of "reach the time for payment" is from 1861. Related: Matured; maturing. wake (v.) "to become awake," O.E. wacan "to become awake," also from wacian "to be or remain awake," both from P.Gmc. *waken (cf. O.S. wakon, O.N. vaka, Dan. vaage, O.Fris. waka, Du. waken, O.H.G. wahhen, Ger. wachen "to be awake," Goth. wakan "to watch"), from PIE root *weg- "to be strong, be lively" (cf. Skt. vajah "force, swiftness, race, prize," vajayati "drives on;" L. vegere, vigere "to be live, be active, quicken," vigil "awake, wakeful," vigor "liveliness, activity"). Causative sense "to rouse from sleep" is attested from c.1300. Phrase wake-up call is attested from 1976, originally a call one received from the hotel desk in the morning. breakfast (n.) mid-15c., from break (v.) + fast (n.). The verb is recorded from 1670s. The Sp. almuerzo "lunch," but formerly and still locally "breakfast," is from L. admorsus, pp. of admordere "to bite into," from ad- "to" + mordere "to bite." Like almuerzo, words for "breakfast" tend over time to shift in meaning toward "lunch;" cf. Fr. déjeuner "breakfast," later "lunch" (equivalent of Sp. desayuno "breakfast"), both from V.L. *disieiunare "to breakfast," from L. dis- + ieiunare, jejunare "fast" (see jejune; also cf. dine). German Frühstück is from M.H.G. vruostücke, lit. "early bit." Old English had morgenmete "morning meal." Monday O.E. mondæg, monandæg "Monday," lit. "day of the moon," from mona (gen. monan; see moon (n.)) + dæg (see day). Common Germanic (cf. O.N. manandagr, O.Fris. monendei, Du. maandag, Ger. Montag) loan-translation of L.L. Lunæ dies, source of the day name in Romance languages (cf. Fr. lundi, It. lunedi, Sp. lunes), itself a loan-translation of Gk. selenes hemera. The name for this day in Slavic tongues generally means "day after Sunday." Phrase Monday morning quarterback is attested from 1932, Monday being the first day back at work after the weekend, when school and college football games were played. Black Monday (mid-14c.) is the Monday after Easter day, though how it got its reputation for bad luck is a mystery. Saint Monday (1753) was "used with reference to the practice among workmen of being idle Monday, as a consequence of drunkenness on the Sunday" before [OED]. Clergymen, meanwhile, when indisposed complained of feeling Mondayish (1804) in ref. to effects of Sunday's labors. hour (n.) mid-13c., from O.Fr. hore "one-twelfth of a day" (sunrise to sunset), from L. hora "hour, time, season," from Gk. hora "any limited time," from PIE *yor-a-, from root *yer- "year, season" (see year). Greek hora was "a season; 'the season;'" in classical times, sometimes, "a part of the day," such as morning, evening, noon, night. The Greek astronomers apparently borrowed the notion of dividing the day into twelve parts (mentioned in Herodotus) from the Babylonians (night continued to be divided into four watches), but as the amount of daylight changed throughout the year, the hours were not fixed or of equal length. Equinoctal hours did not become established in Europe until the 4c., and as late as 16c. distinction sometimes was made between temporary (unequal) hours and sidereal (equal) ones. The h- has persisted in this word despite not being pronounced since Roman times. Replaced O.E. tid, lit. "time," and stund "period of time." As a measure of distance ("the distance that can be covered in an hour") it is recorded from 1785. east O.E. east "east, easterly, eastward," from P.Gmc. *aus-to-, *austra- "east, toward the sunrise" (cf. O.Fris. ast "east," aster "eastward," Du. oost O.S. ost, O.H.G. ostan, Ger. Ost, O.N. austr "from the east"), from PIE *aus- "to shine," especially "dawn" (cf. Skt. ushas "dawn," Gk. aurion "morning," O.Ir. usah, Lith. auszra "dawn," L. aurora "dawn," auster "south"), lit. "to shine." The east is the direction in which dawn breaks. For theory of shift in sense in Latin, see Australia. Meaning "the eastern part of the world" (from Europe) is from c.1300. Fr. est, Sp. este are borrowings from Middle English, originally nautical. The east wind in Biblical Palestine was scorching and destructive (cf. Ezek. xvii:10); in New England it is bleak, wet, unhealthful. Cold War use of East for "communist states" first recorded 1951. Natives of eastern Germany and the Baltics were known as easterlings 16c.-18c. East End of London so called by 1846; East Side of Manhattan so called from 1882; East Indies (India and Southeast Asia) so called 1590s to distinguish them from the West Indies. so long parting salutation, 1860, of unknown origin, perhaps from a German idiom (cf. German parting salutation adieu so lange, the full sense of which probably is something like "farewell, whilst (we're apart)"), perhaps from Heb. shalom (via Yiddish sholom). Some have noted a similarity to Scandinavian leave-taking phrases, cf. Norw. Adjø så lenge, Farvel så lenge, Mor'n så lenge, lit. "bye so long, farewell so long, morning so long;" and Swed. Hej så länge "good-bye for now," with så länge "for now" attested since 1850 according to Swedish sources. Most etymology sources seem to lean toward the German origin. Earlier guesses that it was a sailors' corruption of a South Pacific form of Arabic salaam are not now regarded as convincing. "Dictionary of American Slang" also adds to the list of candidates Ir. slán "safe," said to be used as a salutation in parting. The phrase seems to have turned up simultaneously in America, Britain, and perhaps Canada, originally among lower classes. First attested use is in title and text of the last poem in Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" in the 1860 edition. An unknown sphere, more real than I dream'd, more direct, darts awakening rays about me -- So long! Remember my words -- I may again return, I love you -- I depart from materials; I am as one disembodied, triumphant, dead. Whitman's friend and fan William Sloane Kennedy, wrote in 1923: The salutation of parting -- 'So long!' -- was, I believe, until recent years, unintelligible to the majority of persons in America, especially in the interior, and to members of the middle and professional classes. I had never heard of it until I read it in Leaves of Grass, but since then have quite often heard it used by the laboring class and other classes in New England cities. Walt wrote to me, defining 'so long' thus: "A salutation of departure, greatly used among sailors, sports, & prostitutes -- the sense of it is 'Till we meet again,' -- conveying an inference that somehow they will doubtless so meet, sooner or later." ... It is evidently about equivalent to our 'See you later.' The phrase is reported as used by farm laborers near Banff, Scotland. In Canada it is frequently heard; 'and its use is not entirely confined to the vulgar.' It is in common use among the working classes of Liverpool and among sailors at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and in Dorsetshire. ... The London Globe suggests that the expression is derived from the Norwegian 'Saa laenge,' a common form of 'farewell,' au revoir. If so, the phrase was picked up from the Norwegians in America, where 'So long' first was heard. The expression is now (1923) often used by the literary and artistic classes.
