Wordsmith.Org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

 About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ
Dec 23, 2010
This week's theme
No el

This week's words
katzenjammer
quixotic
divagate
nyctophobia
frowsty

nyctophobia
Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

nyctophobia

PRONUNCIATION:
(nik-tuh-FOH-bee-uh)

MEANING:
noun: An abnormal fear of night or darkness.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek nycto (night) + -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1892. A related word is nyctalopia (night blindness).

USAGE:
"Even if you have nyctophobia you should be able to comfortably sit in a darkened movie theater. Just think of the movie screen as a huge night light."
Duane Dudek; Be Very Afraid; Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Jul 30, 1999

See more usage examples of nyctophobia in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
It ought to be plain / how little you gain / by getting excited / and vexed. / You'll always be late / for the previous train, / and always in time / for the next. -Piet Hein, poet and scientist (1905-1996)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith