evennight

English

Alternative forms

• even-night, even night

Etymology

From Middle English *even-night, from Old English efnniht, from Proto-West Germanic *ebnanaht (“equinox”), equivalent to even- +‎ night. Cognate with Old Frisian evennacht, ivinnacht, Old Norse jafnnætti. Compare also Dutch nachtevening (“equinox”).

Noun

evennight (plural evennights)

1. (rare, historical, Germanic paganism) Equinox.
   • 1992, Stephen A. McNallen, Maddy Hutter, The Runestone - Volumes 1-12:

     Ostara's Day is the first Sunday following the Spring Evennight, which means it can never be later than March 31, even when March 24 is the previous Sunday, and the old date is used, March 25, for the beginning of spring.

   • 2015, Dorothy Hearst, Spirit of the Wolves:

     "I have told the leaders of Kaar that wolves will only come back to the village if a krianan brings them. They are choosing a new krianan at their Spring Festival on Even Night."

   • 2016, Victoria Whitworth, Daughter of the Wolf:

     "I'll be there. At the even-night." Five months away.

   • 2016, Joanna Courtney, Helen Hollick, Annie Whitehead, 1066 Turned Upside Down:

     Belly round now with the child. Please bring Grandmother to me. The harvest had been gathered less than a month ago and in three days folk would be celebrating the 'even night', the feast of Mabon, when day and night were equal in length, and beer and wine would be drunk in huge amounts in thanksgiving of the safe bringing in of the earth's bounties.