▪ I. evening, n.1
(ˈiːvnɪŋ)
Forms: 1 ǽfnung, 3 eveningue, 4–6 evenyng(e, (7 Sc. e'ening), 3– evening.
[OE. ǽfnung, verbal n. f. ǽfnian ‘to grow towards evening’, f. ǽfen even n.
The vb. occurs in K. ælfred tr. Greg. Dial. (Hatton MS.) i. x, Þa þa se dæᵹ æfnode. Also in tr. Bæda de Temp., Sax. Leechdoms III. 260.]
† 1. The coming on of ‘even’, the process or fact of growing dusk; the time at which this takes place, the time about sunset. Obs.; merged in 2.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. viii. 11 Heo com ða on æfnunge eft to Noe. c 1205 Lay. 30419 Riht to þan euening Þa fleh Cadwalan þe king. c 1290 Lives Saints (1887) 40 In þe eueningue riȝht Seint Ieme cam to him ride. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxvii. 57 Whanne the euenyng was maad, there came a riche man fro Armathia. c 1440 Bone Flor. 1458 To hyt drewe to the evenynge. |
2. a. As a synonym of
even, which it has now superseded in ordinary use: The close of the day; usually, the time from about sunset till bedtime.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 144 Evenynge, þe laste parte of þe day. 1553 Duke of Northumberland in Four C. Eng. Lett. 22 Wofull was the newes I receyved this evenynge. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iii. ii. 226, I shall fall Like a bright exhalation in the Euening. 1741 Watts Improv. Mind i i. §9 The Pythagoreans..every evening thrice run over the actions and affairs of the day. 1767–95 Macneill Will & Jean ii, The tears that now ilk e'ening Bleach'd her lately crimson'd cheek. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xviii. 122 On the evening of the same day. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 111 People met..at the supper at nine in the evening. |
b. transf. and
fig. The closing or declining period of a person's life, or of anything compared to a ‘day’.
| 1614 Raleigh Hist. World (J.), The long day of mankind drawing towards an evening. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. (1843) 350/1 He was a person of great courage, honour, and fidelity, and not well known till his evening. 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 116 The sad evening of a stormy life. 1812 Shelley Addr. Irish People 8 The king of Great Britain has arrived at the evening of his days. 1865 Pusey Truth Eng. Ch. 3 To..consecrate the evening of my life to the unfolding of some of the deep truths of God's Holy Word. |
c. Afternoon.
dial. and
U.S. local.
| 1788 in G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-Bk. (1879) 136 The meeting held on Monday evening last was adjourned to be holden to-morrow Evening at three of the Clock. 1790 Pennsylv. Packet 5 Jan. 3/1 It was..dark from about two o'clock until about half after four in the evening. 1806 M. Lewis in Lewis & Clark Exped. (1905) IV. 319 It was one in the evening before he returned. 1876 ‘Mark Twain’ Tom Sawyer i. 3 He'll play hookey this evening. 1880 G. W. Cable Grandissimes xiv. 94 This evening (the Creoles never say afternoon) about a half⁓hour before sunset. 1882 Mrs. Chamberlain West Worcs. Word 10 A woman lately wished me ‘good marnin'’ at 1.30 p.m., then, having passed, turned back to apologize: ‘Good evenin’ ma'am, I should 'a' said.’ 1889 ‘C. E. Craddock’ Broomsedge Cove x. 177 Air ye obligated ennywise ter stan' in the middle o' this narrer bridge all evening? 1966 G. W. Turner Eng. Lang. in Austral. & N.Z. viii. 164 In Queensland evening may be used to refer to anytime after midday. |
d. evenings, in the evening; of an evening.
Cf. nights adv. colloq. or
dial. (chiefly
U.S.).
| 1652, c 1740 [see morning n. 3 c]. 1862 O. W. Norton Army Lett. (1903) 40 We have rather dull times, but evenings we write letters or sing. 1885 Century Mag. XXXI. 35/1 We had some real good talks evenings down on the rocks. 1926 B. Ruck Her Pirate Partner xvi. 209 So, for all they keep you so close, you go out as you like, evenings! Every night of the week? 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 32 (Advt.), Evenings, there's dancing to do, nightclubs to visit. |
e. Ellipt. for ‘good evening’.
colloq.| 1912 Masefield Widow in Bye St. iv. st. 17, ‘Evening,’ she said. ‘Good evening.’ 1965 I. Fleming Man with Golden Gun v. 70 The eyes flirted. ‘Evenin'.’ ‘Good evening. Could I have a Red Stripe?’ |
f. Ellipt. for
evening paper (see 5 b below).
colloq.| 1961 ‘B. Wells’ Day Earth caught Fire vii. 109 The Covent Garden blaze had turned out to be a natural for the evenings, but even more so for the mornings. 1967 G. Douglas Death went Hunting v. 36 We've missed the final edition of the local evening now. |
3. An evening spent in a particular way;
esp. an evening devoted to the reception and entertainment of friends.
Cf. soirée.
| 1870 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Austin Friars iv, Two or three friends were dropping in to supper; and occasional ‘evenings out’. 1877 M. M. Grant Sun-Maid xvii, He enjoyed those ‘little evenings’, as his aunt termed them. 1881 H. James Portr. Lady xxxv, Mrs. Osmond having an ‘evening’—she had taken the Thursday of each week. 1883 J. Hatton in Harper's Mag. Nov. 844/2 Smoking parties and weekly ‘evenings’. |
† 4. dial. (See
quot.; possibly this belongs to next word.)
Obs.| 1695 Kennett Par. Antiq. Gloss., Evenings, the delivery at even or night, of a certain portion of grass or corn to a customary tenant, who performs his wonted service of mowing or reaping for his lord, and at the end of his day's work receives such a quantity of the grass or corn..as a gratuity or encouragement of his bounden service. 1721–1800 in Bailey; hence in mod. Dicts. |
5. attrib. and
Comb. a. Simple
attrib. or quasi-adj. with sense ‘pertaining to evening, occurring in the evening’, etc.
| 1535 Coverdale Zech. xix. 7 Aboute the euenynge tyme it shal be light. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iv. ii. 17 Now must we..giue some euening Musique to her eare. 1651 Davenant Gondibert ii. i. (R.), Near to his evening region was the sun. 1677 Gilpin Demonol. (1867) 22 Knowledge..from the effects of things; which, because it is more dark and obscure than that which ariseth from the causes of things, they [the schoolmen] termed evening knowledge. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 521 The cool Evening-breeze the Meads renews. Ibid. iv. 628 A Shepherd's Groom Surveys his Ev'ning Flocks returning Home. 1704 Pope Pastorals, Autumn 40 The birds shall cease to tune their ev'ning song. Ibid. Winter 45 No grateful dews descend from ev'ning skies. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) II. 282 We took our evening-walk in the fields. 1712 Addison Psalm xix, Soon as the evening shades prevail. 1725 Pope Odyss. xix. 83 A day-devourer, and an evening-spy! 1728 ― Dunc. ii. 72 At early dawn to drop Her evening cates before his neighbour's shop. a 1763 Shenstone Elegies viii. 5, I saw my friends in ev'ning circles meet. 1804 T. Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 19 My evening prospects now hang on the slender thread of a single life. 1870 Dickens E. Drood iv, I have been..wasting my evening conversation on the desert air. 1879 E. Garrett House by the Works II. 188 Aunt Barbara..took her to the evening classes of the Art School. |
b. In various combinations of a more permanent character, chiefly simple
attrib., as
evening-hymn,
† evening-mass,
evening meal,
evening-prayer,
evening-sacrifice,
evening school,
evening-service, etc.; also
evening-bird (see
quot.);
evening dress, the costume prescribed by fashion to be worn in the evening; hence
evening-dressed adj.;
† evening end,
app. the western end (of a mine work);
evening flower, a genus of plants (
Hesperantha, family Iridaceæ) so called because its flowers expand early in the evening;
† evening glade, ? some atmospherical phenomenon seen in the evening;
evening gun (see
quot.);
evening-lighted ppl. a., illuminated by the light of the evening;
evening paper, a newspaper published later than a morning paper, usually so as to be on sale from about midday onward;
evening party, a social gathering beginning some time in the evening (
cf. 3);
evening primrose (see
quot. 1872);
† evening-song = evensong;
evening-star, applied with definite article to Venus, with
indef. art. also to Jupiter and Mercury, when seen in the west after sunset, also
fig.;
evening suit, a suit of formal clothes as prescribed by fashion to be worn in the evening;
evening-tide = eventide.
| 1884 Girl's Own Paper Feb. 227/2 The gecko..is sometimes known as the *‘Evening Bird’. |
| 1797 N. Heideloff Gallery of Fashion Nov. in Jane Austen Novels (1926) I. 387 *Evening dresses. 1825 H. Wilson Memoirs I. 91 Ponsonby..had put on an evening dress. 1863 Mrs. Gaskell in All Year Round IX. 74/1 There stood Mrs. Forbes in her handsome evening dress. 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. I. 11 ‘Have you no evening-dress’ asks Netta. 1936 E. A. Baker Hist. Eng. Novel VII. iii. 186 Evening dress in any colour that suited the fancy of the wearer was discarded for the black coat. 1970 Times 6 Nov. 1/5 News readers at B.B.C. Leeds have been told to wear evening dress at night. |
| 1896 Westm. Gaz. 15 Feb. 3/2 An *evening-dressed audience. 1933 P. Godfrey Back-Stage xiv. 179 An evening-dressed gentleman. Ibid., Comedy sketches which allowed of being evening-dressed were booked in preference to those which did not. |
| 1684 Copper Mines ii. in Phil. Trans. XVII. 741 Which Seam or Vein did go from the *Evening-end to the Morning-end of the said Work. |
| 1847 Craig, Hesperantha, The *Evening-flower. 1866 in Treas. Bot. |
| 1714 Phil. Trans. XXIX. 66 In the next place he mentions the *Evening Glade. |
| 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. iii. 145 The Master of the Pink was prevailed on to omit firing the *evening gun. 1810 Naval Chron. XXIII. 121 The guard ship fires evening and morning guns. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Evening Gun, the warning-piece, after the firing of which the sentries challenge. |
| 1832 Tennyson Margaret, From the *evening-lighted wood. |
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iv. i. 38 Shall I come to you at *euening Masse? |
| 1860 *Evening meal [see meal n.2 2 a]. 1954 A. S. C. Ross in Neuphilologische Mitteilungen LV. 43 U-speakers eat..dinner in the evening;..Evening meal is non-U. 1958 Listener 10 July 68/2 A time when many of us are either cooking or eating our evening meal. |
| 1727–41 *Evening paper [see paper n. 8]. 1857 Dickens Dorrit ii. xii. 419 The evening paper was full of Mr. Merdle. 1940 L. MacNeice Last Ditch 24 Divided by the morning tea By the evening paper, By children and tradesmen's bills. |
| 1816 Jane Austen Emma II. xvi. 299 Dinner-parties and *evening-parties were made for him. 1871 Temple Bar May 229 In all places where Londoners do congregate, whether at dinner or evening parties. 1879 Robinson Coward Consc. ii. vii, In true evening-party fashion. |
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. ii. 100 A ciuill modest wife..that will not misse you morning nor *euening prayer. |
| 1806 Smith & Sowerby Eng. Bot. XXII. 1534 Œnothera biennis. Common *Evening-Primrose. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. ii. 172 The expansion of the flowers in the evening only, of Common Œnothera..hence called Evening Primrose. 1882 Garden 22 July 64/3 The Evening Primrose covers the ground with large pale lemon flowers. |
| 1535 Coverdale 1 Esdras viii. 72, I sat still full of heuines vntill the *euenynge sacrifice. |
| 1822 Missionary Herald (Boston, Mass.) XVIII. 51 Avails of an *evening school. 1832 Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. I. 361/2 On the discovery of his literary taste, Mr. Laidlaw put him to an evening school. 1937 Discovery Sept. p. lxxxi, Evening Schools of History and Geography are specially arranged to meet the needs of Adult Students. |
| 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho ii, St. Aubert read, in a low and solemn voice, the *Evening Service. |
| 1634 Canne Necess. Separ. (1849) 89 To use it as Papists did their matins and *evening song. 1660 Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. ii. ii. §61 Untill the Evening song be finished, for then the Ecclesiastical solemnity is over. c 1740 Shenstone Rape Trap, When the bell rung For evening song, His dinner scarce was ended. |
| 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxiv. [lxv.] 8 Thou makest both the mornynge and *euenynge starres to prayse y⊇. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 519 Till the amrous Bird of Night..bid haste the Evening Starr On his Hill top. 1781 Cowper Retirement 46 Ere we yet discern life's evening star. 1812 Woodhouse Astron. xxiii. 240 Venus: This brilliant star when seen in the west setting soon after the sun, is known by the name of the Evening Star. 1819 Byron Juan i. cxxii, 'Tis sweet to see the evening star appear. 1886 Whitaker's Almanac 17 Venus is an evening star in the first half of the month [February]. |
| 1862 G. Meredith Lett. (1970) I. 166 If you want me to dine, know that I can only do so if you are absolutely alone, having no *evening suit. 1912 J. Joyce Let. 11 Sept. (1966) II. 319 My evening suit is in the lower drawer of the wardrobe. 1915 D. H. Lawrence Let. 2 Mar. (1962) I. 328 Will you tell me if I must bring evening suit. |
| 1552 Huloet, *Euenynge tyde, or euen tyde. 1611 Bible 2 Sam. xi. 2 It came to passe in an euening tide, that Dauid arose from off his bed. 1743 R. Blair Grave 716 Behold him in the evening-tide of life. a 1800 Cowper Moralizer corrected 12 To serious thought at evening-tide. |
Hence (
nonce-wds.)
ˈeveningless a., without an evening;
ˈeveningly adv., every evening.
| 1825 Blackw. Mag. XVIII. 441 And eveningless that sunny noon of heart. 1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & W. xxviii, Daily, or more correctly, eveningly. |
▸
evening wear n. wear (
wear n. 1a) during the evening or at night; (hence, also as one word) articles of clothing suitable for formal wear during the evening,
freq. as opposed to the more casual styles of day wear (
cf. day wear n. at
day n. Additions).
| 1849 Illustr. London News 5 May 296/2 One of the chief novelties of the season, suitable for promenading or for *evening wear, is the Poncho. 1930 Daily Express 6 Oct. 5/2 (advt.) Rich quality panne velvet giving a fashionable brilliance for afternoon and evening wear. 1944 M. McLuhan Let. 18 Jan. (1987) 149 Both lectures are in the evening. ‘Smoking’ is formal evening wear here, but I'll check on tails. 2002 Herald (Glasgow) (Electronic ed.) 11 June From eveningwear all the way down to underwear, and from high fashion all the way down to high street, those distinctive black, brown, and beige mottled markings are the fastest-selling style story of the season. |
▪ II. † ˈevening, n.2 Obs. [f. even v. + -ing1.] 1. The action of the
vb. even:
a. the action of making even, level, or smooth;
b. ? the action of comparing; hence, comparison (
quot. 1230, which may belong to next word).
| c 1230 Hali Meid. 7 Heouenliche luren..passeð alle oðre wiðuten eueninge. 1511–2 Act 3 Hen. VIII, c. 6. §1 Suche byer..may drawe and strayn them [clothes] for evenyng of them oonly. 1611 Cotgr., Vniement, an euenning, equalling, planing. 1670 Narborough in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. (1711) 73, I saw where the Natives had been by the evening of the Grass. |
2. The condition of being even; equality.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 3372 Þi maister..neuer yet of nobley An euenyng to me. |
▪ III. † ˈevening, n.3 and a. Obs. [a. ON. iafning-i, n. f. iafn even a. But possibly this may have blended with an adv. f. OE. efen, even a. + -inga, -unga advb. suffix.] A. n. An equal, one of the same rank; a ‘match’; a neighbour (in scriptural sense).
| a 1200 Moral Ode 162 in Lamb. Hom. 169 Þer sculen eueningges bon þe riche and the laȝe. c 1200 Ormin 10702 Tatt tu wiþþ þin efenninng þe metelike lede. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 119 Heo..undernam hit [lare] se wel Þæt nane ne was hire euening. c 1325 Chron. Eng. 24 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 271 Geomagog hatte here Kyng, Me nuste no wer ys evenyng. c 1450 Myrc 1229 Hast thou enuyet thyn euenynge. |
B. adj. ? or
adv. 1. [The
n. or
adv. used predicatively.] Equal; on a level; of the same rank. Const.
to,
with.
| c 1200 Ormin 13674 Þe laþe gast þatt wollde ben effninng wiþþ Godd. a 1225 Ancr. R. 334 Hwuche unðeauwes beoð efnunge to þeos. a 1300 Cursor M. 11688 (Cott.) Þe crop was euening to þe rote. Ibid. 23392 Þat ilk þan mai þe angels do þat þou sal euening þan be to. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2217 Of any erdyng in erthe euenyng to vs. |
2. As
adv. qualifying an
adj.| c 1300 Cursor M. 28170 (Cott.) Of him þat was myn euening rike. |