evening: [OE] Evening is a derivative of even [OE], a word for ‘evening’ now restricted to bad poetry. This came ultimately from an Indo- European base, whose general meaning of ‘lateness’ is pointed up by other descendants such as Sanskrit apara- ‘later, western’, Greek opsé ‘late’, and Gothic iftuma ‘following, later’. The specific application to ‘latter part of the day’ seems only to have occurred in the Germanic languages, where it is represented in German abend and Dutch avond, and also possibly in Swedish afton and Danish aften (although these could be from another source).
The Old English word was ǣfen, which formed the basis of a verb ǣfnian ‘become evening’; the verbal noun derived from this has become English evening. Eve [13], as in ‘Christmas eve’, is a Middle English reduction of even.
evening (n.)
from Old English æfnung "the coming of evening, sunset, time around sunset," verbal noun from æfnian "become evening, grow toward evening," from æfen "evening" (see eve). As a synonym of even (n.) in the sense "time from sunset to bedtime," it dates from mid-15c. and now entirely replaces the older word in this sense. Another Old English noun for "evening" was cwildtid.
实用例句
1. The most pleasurable experience of the evening was the wonderful fireworks display.
这个晚上最让人高兴的就是精彩的焰火表演。
来自柯林斯例句
2. It was just gone 7 o'clock this evening when I finished.
今晚我做完的时候刚过7点。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The evening show was terrible, with hesitant unsure performances from all.
晚上的演出很糟，所有人都缩手缩脚，显得很不自信。
来自柯林斯例句
4. It's been a beautiful evening and you have made it all possible.
那是个美好的夜晚，你让一切成为可能。
来自柯林斯例句
5. After a long evening of partying he looked tired.
