crepuscularadj.
/krɪˈpʌskjuːlə/ 1. Of or pertaining to twilight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [adjective] > of or relating to twilight
crepusculinec1550
twilight1645
crepuscular1755
greying1796
crepusculous1822
dimps1891
1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. i. i. 3 The Difference..between the crepuscular and the Noon-tide Light.
1791 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. I i. Notes 12 The crepuscular atmosphere, or the region where the light of the sun ceases to be refracted to us, is estimated..to be between 40 and 50 miles high.
1867 G. F. Chambers Descr. Astron. i. v. 59 A faint crepuscular light extending beyond the cusps of the planet.
2.
a. figurative. Resembling or likened to twilight; dim, indistinct.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > dimness or absence of brightness > [adjective]
dima1000
darkOE
troublea1327
palec1385
dullc1430
unclearc1440
unbright1534
cloudy1556
unlight1570
muddy1600
wan1601
opacous1616
filmy1642
illuminous1656
crepuscular1668
dumb1720
rayless1754
opaque1794
veilya1802
turbid1811
unlucent1819
ineffulgent1824
blear1830
unrefulgent1856
subluminous1860
subaqueous1875
shineless1882
1668 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 3 730 And perhaps I might have lost the Crepuscular remains of my Sight.
1860 J. P. Kennedy Mem. W. Wirt II. ix. 157 [The law is] at best, a crepuscular labyrinth.
1879 H. James Hawthorne 132 The crepuscular realm of the writer's own reveries.
b. esp. Resembling or likened to the morning twilight as preceding the full light of day; characterized by (as yet) imperfect enlightenment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > evening > [adjective] > of sunset or nightfall
earlya1400
crepusculinec1550
cockshut1592
nightward1631
crepusculous1646
crepuscular1679
sunsetty1860
dimps1891
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [adjective] > in early stages
buddinga1586
infant1594
embryon1613
embryous1628
inchoateda1631
inchoativea1631
crepusculous1646
rudimentary1648
rudimental1658
embryo1659
incipient1669
crepuscular1679
dawninga1700
initiant1740
germing1749
embryotic1761
germinal1804
embryonic1825
embryonary1833
inchoanta1876
adawn1881
1679 T. Puller Moderation Church of Eng. (1843) 254 Proportionable to the first crepuscular and duskish light of those times.
1797 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. 24 509 The favourable influence even of a partial and crepuscular day on the morals..and the happiness of the people.
1842 J. L. Motley Let. 10 Jan. in Corr. (1889) I. iv. 96 The state of crepuscular civilization to which they have reached.
1852 Fraser's Mag. 46 679 That crepuscular period, when the historical sense was scarcely brought to a full state of activity.
3. Zoology. Appearing or active in the twilight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habits or actions > [adjective] > active at night
nocturnal1599
vespertine1607
crepuscular1826
1826 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. (1828) IV. xlix. 525 Crepuscular insects.
1877 E. Coues & J. A. Allen Monogr. N. Amer. Rodentia (U.S. Geol. Surv. Territories, vol. XI) 653 Animals..of crepuscular or nocturnal habits.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2020).
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adj.1668