EVENING

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ǣfnung, from ǣfnian to grow toward ~, from ǣfen ~; akin to Old High German āband ~ and perhaps to Greek epi on Date: before 12th century 1. the latter part and close of the day and early part of the night, afternoon , the period from sunset or the ~ meal to bedtime, the latter portion, the period of an ~'s entertainment, II. adjective Date: 1797 suitable for formal or semiformal ~ social occasions