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Benjamin Henry, 1810–89, U.S. newspaper publisher.
Clarence (Shepard)
[shep-erd] /ˈʃɛp ərd/ (Show IPA), 1874–1935, U.S. author.
Dorothy, 1897–1980, U.S. Roman Catholic social activist, journalist, and publisher.
Also, Daye. Stephen, 1594?–1668, U.S. colonist, born in England: considered the first printer in the Colonies.
noun
Also called civil day. the period of time, the calendar day, of 24 hours’ duration reckoned from one midnight to the next

the period of light between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from the night
(as modifier): the day shift

the part of a day occupied with regular activity, esp work: he took a day off
(sometimes pl) a period or point in time: he was a good singer in his day, in days gone by, any day now
the period of time, the sidereal day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to a particular star. The mean sidereal day lasts 23 hours 56 minutes 4.1 seconds of the mean solar day
the period of time, the solar day, during which the earth makes one complete revolution on its axis relative to the sun. The mean solar day is the average length of the apparent solar day and is some four minutes (3 minutes 56.5 seconds of sidereal time) longer than the sidereal day
the period of time taken by a specified planet to make one complete rotation on its axis: the Martian day
(often capital) a day designated for a special observance, esp a holiday: Christmas Day
all in a day’s work, part of one’s normal activity; no trouble
at the end of the day, in the final reckoning
day of rest, the Sabbath; Sunday
end one’s days, to pass the end of one’s life
every dog has his day, one’s luck will come
in this day and age, nowadays
it’s early days, it’s too early to tell how things will turn out
late in the day

very late (in a particular situation)
too late

that will be the day

I look forward to that
that is most unlikely to happen

a time of success, recognition, power, etc: his day will soon come
a struggle or issue at hand: the day is lost

the ground surface over a mine
(as modifier): the day level

from day to day, without thinking of the future
call it a day, to stop work or other activity
day after day, without respite; relentlessly
day by day, gradually or progressively; daily: he weakened day by day
day in, day out, every day and all day long
from Day 1, from Day One, from the very beginning
one of these days, at some future time
(modifier) of, relating to, or occurring in the day: the day shift
noun
Sir Robin. 1923–2000, British radio and television journalist, noted esp for his political interviews
n.

Old English dæg “day,” also “lifetime,” from Proto-Germanic *dagaz (cf. Old Saxon, Middle Dutch, Dutch dag, Old Frisian dei, Old High German tag, German Tag, Old Norse dagr, Gothic dags), from PIE *dhegh-.

Not considered to be related to Latin dies (see diurnal), but rather to Sanskrit dah “to burn,” Lithuanian dagas “hot season,” Old Prussian dagis “summer.” Meaning originally, in English, “the daylight hours;” expanded to mean “the 24-hour period” in late Anglo-Saxon times. Day off first recorded 1883; day-tripper first recorded 1897. The days in nowadays, etc. is a relic of the Old English and Middle English use of the adverbial genitive.
day
(dā)
See under sidereal time, solar day.

Related Terms

have a field day, make my day, ninety-day wonder, not give someone the time of day, red-letter day
James M. Cox Dayton [OH] International Airport

The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). “The heat of the day” (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) was at our nine o’clock, and “the cool of the day” just before sunset (Gen. 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judg. 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex. 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mark 13:35). (See WATCHES.) The division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Dan. 3:6, 15; 4:19; 5:5. This mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. The reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (John 11:9). The word “day” sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Gen. 2:4; Isa. 22:5; Heb. 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isa. 2:12, Acts 17:31, and 2 Tim. 1:18, the great day of final judgment.

day after day
day and night
day by day
day in court, have one’s
day in, day out
day off
day to day