first dark: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, poetic, descriptive
Quick answer
What does “first dark” mean?
The period of darkness just after sunset.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period of darkness just after sunset; the time when night first falls.
The initial onset of evening darkness, often marking a transition from day to night.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. No significant usage difference.
Connotations
Evocative, descriptive, somewhat old-fashioned or poetic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. Primarily found in literary, poetic, or descriptive prose.
Grammar
How to Use “first dark” in a Sentence
[Time] + at + first darkIt was + first darkAs + first dark + fellVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first dark” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable. The phrase is nominal.
American English
- Not applicable. The phrase is nominal.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. The phrase is nominal.
American English
- Not applicable. The phrase is nominal.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable. The phrase is nominal.
American English
- Not applicable. The phrase is nominal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare; potentially in descriptive geography or atmospheric science.
Everyday
Not used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first dark”
- Using it as a standard term for 'evening'.
- Incorrectly capitalizing it (e.g., 'First Dark').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is rare and used primarily in literary or descriptive contexts.
Not precisely. It refers specifically to the moment night begins, not the broader evening period.
'Twilight' is the period of dim light before night; 'first dark' is the point when full darkness has arrived.
It is very uncommon in contemporary speech or writing, outside of stylistic or poetic choice.
The period of darkness just after sunset.
First dark is usually literary, poetic, descriptive in register.
First dark: in British English it is pronounced /fɜːst dɑːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɜrst dɑrk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specifically with this phrase”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
First is 1st, dark is night. 'First dark' is the 1st moment of night.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A SUBSTANCE THAT ARRIVES (darkness falls).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'first dark'?