noct-
combining form of L. nox, noctis, used in words based on L. ambulāre to walk, also as used in place of nocti- in words in which the following element begins with a vowel; nocˈtambulant a., night-walking; nocˈtambulate v. intr., to walk at night; noctambuˈlation, somnambulism; sleep-walking; nocˈtambulator, one who walks at night; noctambuˈlatory a. = noctambulous adj.; nocˈtambule [cf. F. noctambule], a sleep-walker; nocˈtambulism [F. -isme], somnambulism; nocˈtambulist, a somnambulist; a night-walker; noctambuˈlistic a., connected with night-walking; † nocˈtambulo (also pl. -ones), a somnambulist; nocˈtambulous a., given to night-walking; nocˈturia [-uria], the condition of being aroused from one's sleep abnormally often by the need to urinate;
| 1819 H. Busk Vestriad i. 467 *Noctambulant, aloof, Pads the patrole with solitary hoof. 1891 Harper's Mag. Aug. 430/2 His face is ascetic, with a large forehead, two noctambulant eyes sheltered behind spectacle glasses. |
| 1955 H. Spring These Lovers fled Away 206 Now and then I would *noctambulate through the city. |
| 1721 Bailey, *Noctambulation, a walking in ones Sleep. 1799 C. B. Brown Edgar Huntly xxv, Men have employed anxious months in search of that which, in a freak of noctambulation, was hidden by their own hands. |
| 1962 V. Nabokov Pale Fire 221 If you..pull up the window, and..roll out..there is always the chance of knocking clean through into your own hell a pacific *noctambulator walking his dog. |
| 1913 C. Mackenzie Sinister Street I. ii. vii. 259 Conversations with Brother Aloysius were sufficiently thrilling journeys, and Michael was always ready to follow his footsteps as one might follow a *noctambulatory cat. |
| 1825 R. P. Ward Tremaine III. xv. 345 He says, all are mad, foolish, dreaming, *Noctambules, fit patients for Monroe. |
| 1860 Worcester (citing Hoblyn), *Noctambulism. 1881 Colquhoun Hist. of Magic I. 55 The phenomena of the natural somnambulism or Noctambulism. |
| 1731 Bailey (vol. II.), *Noctambulist, a Person who walks in the Night, properly in Sleep. 1803 Beddoes Hygëia ix. 130 The proneness of noctambulists to loss of consciousness. 1852 Mundy Antipodes i. (1855) 18 If a noctambulist yourself, you may indeed encounter, towards the small hours, an occasional night-errant. 1887 T. Hardy Woodlanders II. xvii. 319 She decided that her fellow-noctambulist, even if a poacher, would not injure her. |
| 1890 Temple Bar Jan. 116 A *noctambulistic escapade. |
| 1624 Donne Serm. xlvi. 467 That our *Noctambulones, men that walke in their sleepe, will wake if they be called by their names. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. 180 Those Noctambuloes and night⁓walkers, though in their sleep, do yet injoy the action of their senses. 1733 Arbuthnot Air (J.), Respiration being carried on in sleep, is no argument against its being voluntary. What shall we say of noctambulos? |
| 1731 Bailey (vol. II), *Noctambulous, of or pertaining to walking in the Night. 1786 Nat. Hist. in Ann. Reg. 51/2 By nature melancholy,..carnivorous and noctambulous. 1899 Speaker 25 Nov. 188/1 Hardy, unscoured, fraternal, noctambulous..the Bohemian is part born, part made. |
| 1911 Dorland Med. Dict. (ed. 6) 558/2 *Nocturia, excessive urination at night. 1928 Eisendrath & Rolnick Text-bk. Urology xlvi. 707 The patient has noticed that..there has been an increase in the number of times, he or she, experienced the desire to void urine. This may have occurred only at night i.e. nocturia, or during the day. 1961 Lancet 12 Aug. 335/2, 1 patient was troubled by nocturia. 1971 Golden & Maher Kidney ii. 36 Nocturia may thus be an early symptom of renal failure. |