The time when the sun goes below the horizon in the evening; sunset or dusk.
From 'sun' (Old English 'sunne,' from Proto-Germanic) + 'down' (from Old English 'of-dune,' meaning 'off the hill' or downward). Literally describes the sun going down. Compound formed in Middle English.
Sundown was incredibly important to ancient cultures—it marked the boundary between day and night when dangerous animals emerged. Many religions use sundown to mark the start of new days (Jewish Sabbath, Islamic fasting), showing how this simple word represents a major turning point.
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