noon
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1 highest point (n.) C1 Advanced Literarythe highest or most successful point of something.
the highest point, culmination, or peak of a period or career.
ExampleThe empire reached its noon during the eighteenth century.
ExampleThe poet was in the noon of his fame when he suddenly decided to stop publishing and live in isolation.
Usageoften used with 'of' to describe a period of time or a career
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2 midnight (n.) C2 Proficiency Archaican old word for the middle of the night.
the middle of the night; midnight. This sense is no longer used in modern English.
ExampleThe clock struck the hour of noon in the dark, silent house.
ExampleIn the ancient poem, the ghosts were said to walk abroad at the stroke of noon, meaning the dead of night.
Teacher's tipThis sense is strictly for reading historical literature; using it in modern speech will cause total confusion.
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3 to rest at midday (v.) C1 Advanced Dialect Archaicto take a rest or a nap during the middle of the day.
to rest or take a midday meal or nap. Intransitive; primarily used in rural or historical contexts.
ExampleThe workers decided to noon under the shade of the large oak tree.
ExampleThe cattle were left to noon in the valley while the herders prepared their own lunch by the stream.
From Middle English noen, none, non, from Old English nōn (“the ninth hour”), from a Germanic borrowing of classical Latin nōna (“ninth hour”) (short for nōna hōra), feminine of nōnus (“ninth”). Cognate with Dutch noen, obsolete German Non, Norwegian non.