Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nocturne” come from?

Nocturne comes from French nocturne, from Latin nocturnus meaning "of the night," derived from Latin nox meaning "night," which traces to Proto-Indo-European nókʷts with the same sense.

nocturne (English): A work of art relating or dedicated to the night;...

Definitions

  1. A work of art relating or dedicated to the night;...

Ancestry of “nocturne”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchnocturnenocturnal; of night; nocturne
2LatinnocturnusOf or belonging to the night, nocturnal
3LatinNox—
4Proto-Italicnokts—
5Proto-Indo-Europeannókʷtsnight
6Proto-Indo-Europeannegʷ-bare, naked

Words derived from “nocturne”

  • nocturnelike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European negʷ- →