midnight

Everyday

1. Midnight is twelve o'clock at night, the moment when one day ends and the next one begins. tree →
2. Midnight can mean the middle of the night, a very late hour. tree →

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 →
• We stayed up until midnight on New Year's Eve. tree →
• Midnight is 00:00 on the 24-hour clock. tree →
• The clock struck twelve at midnight. tree →
• We had a midnight feast at the sleepover. tree →
• It's past midnight; go to sleep! tree →
• From midnight to 6 a.m. is six hours. tree →
• The owl hooted in the middle of the night, just after midnight. tree →
• At midnight the cottage door opened. tree →

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 →
• At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous ordinances. (Writings PSA.119.62, JPS 1917) tree →
• 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 →
• 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 →

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.