A matinee is a performance, such as a movie or play, that takes place in the daytime, usually in the afternoon. It contrasts with an evening or nighttime show.
From French “matinée” meaning 'morning time', from “matin” 'morning', ultimately from Latin “matutinus”. As theater habits changed, the word shifted from 'morning' to mean any early-day performance.
It literally started out as 'morning', but theater culture pushed it later into the day—so your 2 p.m. movie is technically a 'morning' show in French history. The accent mark in 'matinee' is a little fossil from its French life.
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