from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Evening \E"ven*ing\, n. [AS. [=ae]fnung. See {even}, n., and cf.
{Eve}.]
1. The latter part and close of the day, and the beginning of
darkness or night; properly, the decline of the day, or of
the sun.
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In the ascending scale
Of heaven, the stars that usher evening rose.
--Milton.
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Note: Sometimes, especially in the Southern parts of the
United States, the afternoon is called evening.
--Bartlett.
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2. The latter portion, as of life; the declining period, as
of strength or glory.
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Note: Sometimes used adjectively; as, evening gun. "Evening
Prayer." --Shak.
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{Evening flower} (Bot.), a genus of iridaceous plants
({Hesperantha}) from the Cape of Good Hope, with
sword-shaped leaves, and sweet-scented flowers which
expand in the evening.
{Evening grosbeak} (Zo["o]l.), an American singing bird
({Coccothraustes vespertina}) having a very large bill.
Its color is olivaceous, with the crown, wings, and tail
black, and the under tail coverts yellow. So called
because it sings in the evening.
{Evening primrose}. See under {Primrose}.
{The evening star}, the bright star of early evening in the
western sky, soon passing below the horizon; specifically,
the planet Venus; -- called also {Vesper} and {Hesperus}.
During portions of the year, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are
also evening stars. See {Morning Star}.
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