🌙 Dark Times and Chilly Climes: The Dead of Night and Winter ❄️
dead of night/winter, the
Definition: The time of most intense stillness, darkness, or cold. This usage stretches back to the sixteenth century, with illustrious references by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night and Washington Irving in Salmagundi which describe these moments when the world seems particularly still and silent.
Context & Cultural Connections
Literary Connections:
- Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”: “Even in the dead of night …” (Act 1, Scene 5)
- Washington Irving’s “Salmagundi”: “In the dead of winter …”
Both showcase the strikingly quiet, almost eerie quality of these hours or periods.
Similar Terms and Expressions:
- The Witching Hour: That spooky time around midnight when creepy supernatural happenings are said to occur.
- Pitch-black: Utter darkness, without a scrap of light.
- Chill to the bone: When the cold slices right through every layer.
Proverbs and Quotes:
- “The darkest hour is just before the dawn.” — A hopeful saying, implying that things often seem at their worst right before they improve.
- “In the midst of winter, I found there was within me an invincible summer.” — Albert Camus
Synonyms & Antonyms:
- Synonyms: Midnight, depths of darkness, heart of winter, deep freeze
- Antonyms: High noon, peak summer, broad daylight
Suggested Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Books: The Long, Dark Night by Dashiell Hammett; Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin
- Poetry: “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
- Movies: A Christmas Carol; The Midnight Sky
- Songs: “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”; “In the Still of the Night” by The Five Satins
Inspirational Quote:
“In the heart of night or winter, there is solace to be found in the silent whispers of peace and promise.” - Anonymous
Quizzes:
### Which of these is an idiom for intense stillness or darkness?
- [x] Dead of night
- [ ] Singing through twilight
- [ ] Shadows of noontime
- [ ] Daylight rumble
> **Explanation:** "Dead of night" is a commonly known idiom, referring to the most silent, darkest part of the night. The others are just fanciful imaginations.
### Which phrase logically fits into Winter terminations?
- [x] Dead of winter
- [ ] Blossoms of frost
- [ ] Summer's shade
- [ ] Nosy holidays
> **Explanation:** "Dead of winter" is a genuine idiom indicating the coldest part of the winter season. The others are less convincing!
### True or False: 'The witching hour' refers to any daytime period.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "The witching hour" traditionally refers to the time around midnight, when supernatural events are thought likely to occur.
Farewell Thought: “Embrace the silence of the ‘dead of night’ or the hush of the ‘dead of winter’. Inside those quiet corners, the loudest musings often emerge.”
