Proto-Indo-European:
* The word "night" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*nekʷt-*", meaning "night" or "darkness".
Old English:
* This root evolved into the Old English word "niht".
Middle English:
* In Middle English, the spelling shifted to "night", and it began to take on the modern meaning of the period between sunset and sunrise.
Modern English:
* The word "night" remains largely unchanged in Modern English, signifying the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise. It's also used metaphorically to represent a time of secrecy, danger, or uncertainty.
Other Related Words:
* The word "night" is related to other words in various languages, such as:
* German: "Nacht"
* Dutch: "nacht"
* French: "nuit"
* Spanish: "noche"
* Italian: "notte"
* Russian: "ночь" (noch')
The commonality of these words demonstrates the deep roots of the word "night" in the history of language and its importance in human experience.