Active during the night and sleeping or resting during the day. Often used to describe animals like owls and bats.
From Latin “nocturnus,” meaning “of the night,” from “nox” or “noctis” for “night.” It entered English through Late Latin and French scientific and poetic language.
The root “noc- / nox-” meaning “night” shows up in words like “equinox” (equal night) and “nocturne” (a night-themed musical piece). Once you notice it, you can guess night-related meanings in lots of academic and poetic terms.
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