[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/midnight/)

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# midnight

noun (midnight — uncountable)

«midnight» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Midnight is twelve o'clock at night, the moment when one day ends and the next one begins. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#m1)
2. Midnight can mean the middle of the night, a very late hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#m2)

### In the lessons

In maths and time lessons, midnight is 12:00 a.m. or 00:00 on the 24-hour clock; noon (midday) is 12:00 p.m. or 12:00. From midnight to noon is 12 hours. In everyday life, people stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve. In stories, midnight is a magical or spooky time — in Cinderella the magic ends at midnight. Phrases: «at midnight», «before midnight», «past midnight», «midnight feast», «burn the midnight oil» (work late into the night), «midnight blue».

### Examples

- Cinderella had to leave the ball before midnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x1)
- We stayed up until midnight on New Year's Eve. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x2)
- Midnight is 00:00 on the 24-hour clock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x3)
- The clock struck twelve at midnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x4)
- We had a midnight feast at the sleepover. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x5)
- It's past midnight; go to sleep! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x6)
- From midnight to 6 a.m. is six hours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x7)
- The owl hooted in the middle of the night, just after midnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x8)
- At midnight the cottage door opened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/#x9)

### Note

Uncountable: «at midnight», not «at the midnight». Midnight is 12 a.m.; noon is 12 p.m. — these are easy to mix up. In time problems, crossing midnight means the date changes: 11 p.m. + 2 hours = 1 a.m. the next day.

## In Jewish tradition

Midnight is when God said He would strike the firstborn of Egypt in the last plague.

**Interpretation.** Tradition notes that Moses said "about midnight" so that the Egyptians could not claim a mistake in timing. Jews remember this night at Passover, and some people rise at midnight to mourn the Temple.

### Examples

- And Moses said: 'Thus saith the LORD: About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt; (Torah EXO.11.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/midnight/#x1)
- At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous ordinances. (Writings PSA.119.62, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/midnight/#x2)
- And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was startled, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. (Writings RUT.3.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/midnight/#x3)
- In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand. (Writings JOB.34.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/midnight/#x4)

### Note

Uncountable: «at midnight», not «at the midnight». Midnight is 12 a.m.; noon is 12 p.m. — these are easy to mix up. In time problems, crossing midnight means the date changes: 11 p.m. + 2 hours = 1 a.m. the next day.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «midnight» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/midnight/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«midnight» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/midnight.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «midnight» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/midnight/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«midnight» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/midnight.html) on Mova free.