"predawn" meaning in English

See predawn in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English dawn English predawn From pre- + dawn. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|pre-|dawn|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English dawn English predawn [Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "before", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "alt" : "*préh₂i", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "status" : "inline", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "before", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*per-", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*preh₂-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-i", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "is_uncertain" : true, "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*prai", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*prai-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "prae-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword" : "lbor" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "pre-", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "enm" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "pre-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "dawn", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "predawn", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="predawn"> From pre- + dawn. Head templates: {{en-adj|-}} predawn (not comparable)
  1. Before dawn. Tags: not-comparable Coordinate_terms: postmidnight, wee hour Translations (before dawn): αξημέρωτος (aximérotos) (Greek)
    Sense id: en-predawn-en-adj-gDMmly-N Categories (other): English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English entries with incorrect language header, English terms prefixed with pre-, Entries with translation boxes, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Pages with etymology trees, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Navajo translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with ǃXóõ translations, Times of day Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 46 54 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 52 48 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 52 48 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 46 54 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with pre-: 51 49 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 58 42 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 58 42 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 58 42 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 69 31 Disambiguation of Pages with etymology trees: 74 26 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 67 33 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 68 32 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 67 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Navajo translations: 68 32 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 75 25 Disambiguation of Terms with ǃXóõ translations: 73 27 Disambiguation of Times of day: 76 24

Noun

Forms: predawns [plural]
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English dawn English predawn From pre- + dawn. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|pre-|dawn|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English dawn English predawn [Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "before", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "alt" : "*préh₂i", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "status" : "inline", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "before", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*per-", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*preh₂-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-i", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "is_uncertain" : true, "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*prai", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*prai-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "prae-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword" : "lbor" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "pre-", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "enm" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "pre-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "dawn", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "predawn", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="predawn"> From pre- + dawn. Head templates: {{en-noun|~}} predawn (countable and uncountable, plural predawns)
  1. The period immediately preceding dawn. Tags: countable, uncountable Related terms: early morning Coordinate_terms: wee hours Translations (period before the rising of the sun): voor de dageraad (Dutch), avant l'aurore (French), hayoołkááł (Navajo), el período antes del amanecer (Spanish), kxʻāo (ǃXóõ)
    Sense id: en-predawn-en-noun-v0uRHBQz Categories (other): English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English entries with incorrect language header, English terms prefixed with pre- Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 46 54 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 52 48 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 52 48 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 46 54 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with pre-: 51 49

Inflected forms

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          "ref": "2008, Christopher Paolini, “Assault on Helgrind”, in Brisingr, page 38:",
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          "code": "el",
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          "lang_code": "el",
          "roman": "aximérotos",
          "sense": "before dawn",
          "word": "αξημέρωτος"
        }
      ]
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}
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        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *per-\nProto-Indo-European *preh₂-\nProto-Indo-European *-i\nProto-Indo-European *préh₂i?\nProto-Italic *prai\nProto-Italic *prai-\nLatin prae-lbor.\nMiddle English pre-\nEnglish pre-\nEnglish dawn\nEnglish predawn\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"before\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*préh₂i\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"before\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*per-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*preh₂-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-i\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*prai\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*prai-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"prae-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"pre-\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"pre-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"dawn\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"predawn\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"predawn\">\nFrom pre- + dawn.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *per-\nProto-Indo-European *preh₂-\nProto-Indo-European *-i\nProto-Indo-European *préh₂i?\nProto-Italic *prai\nProto-Italic *prai-\nLatin prae-lbor.\nMiddle English pre-\nEnglish pre-\nEnglish dawn\nEnglish predawn\nFrom pre- + dawn.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "predawns",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "predawn (countable and uncountable, plural predawns)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "early morning"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "predusk"
        },
        {
          "word": "postdawn"
        }
      ],
      "coordinate_terms": [
        {
          "word": "wee hours"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The period immediately preceding dawn."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "dawn",
          "dawn"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "lang_code": "nl",
      "sense": "period before the rising of the sun",
      "word": "voor de dageraad"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "sense": "period before the rising of the sun",
      "word": "avant l'aurore"
    },
    {
      "code": "nv",
      "lang": "Navajo",
      "lang_code": "nv",
      "sense": "period before the rising of the sun",
      "word": "hayoołkááł"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "period before the rising of the sun",
      "word": "el período antes del amanecer"
    },
    {
      "code": "nmn",
      "lang": "ǃXóõ",
      "lang_code": "nmn",
      "sense": "period before the rising of the sun",
      "word": "kxʻāo"
    }
  ],
  "word": "predawn"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymology trees",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *per- (before)",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *preh₂-",
    "English terms prefixed with pre-",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Navajo translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with ǃXóõ translations",
    "en:Times of day"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "pre-",
        "4": "dawn",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *per-\nProto-Indo-European *preh₂-\nProto-Indo-European *-i\nProto-Indo-European *préh₂i?\nProto-Italic *prai\nProto-Italic *prai-\nLatin prae-lbor.\nMiddle English pre-\nEnglish pre-\nEnglish dawn\nEnglish predawn\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"before\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*préh₂i\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"before\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*per-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*preh₂-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-i\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*prai\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*prai-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"prae-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"pre-\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"pre-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"dawn\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"predawn\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"predawn\">\nFrom pre- + dawn.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *per-\nProto-Indo-European *preh₂-\nProto-Indo-European *-i\nProto-Indo-European *préh₂i?\nProto-Italic *prai\nProto-Italic *prai-\nLatin prae-lbor.\nMiddle English pre-\nEnglish pre-\nEnglish dawn\nEnglish predawn\nFrom pre- + dawn.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "predawn (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "postdawn"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "coordinate_terms": [
        {
          "word": "postmidnight"
        },
        {
          "word": "wee hour"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              47,
              54
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2008, Christopher Paolini, “Assault on Helgrind”, in Brisingr, page 38:",
          "text": "A thick layer of mist, gray and ghostly in the predawn glow, emanated from the water, as if witchfire burned upon the surface of the liquid.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              65,
              72
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2020 August 19, Ray Sanchez, Cheri Mossburg, “FedEx cargo jet makes predawn emergency landing in Los Angeles”, in CNN, archived from the original on 18 Nov 2025:",
          "text": "Sparks erupted from the bottom of a FedEx cargo jet as it made a predawn emergency landing Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport, officials said.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Before dawn."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "lang_code": "el",
      "roman": "aximérotos",
      "sense": "before dawn",
      "word": "αξημέρωτος"
    }
  ],
  "word": "predawn"
}

Download raw JSONL data for predawn meaning in English (9.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-06-07 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-06-01 using wiktextract (e79dea5 and 7f4db16). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.