midniht

Midniht is a historical or stylistic variant spelling of the English word midnight. It occurs in older English manuscripts and dialect writings, where the form reflects early orthography in which the syllables mid- and niht (night) were joined. The combination indicates the middle portion of the night, as in the modern concept of midnight.

Etymology and forms: The term derives from Old English midniht, with mid- meaning "middle" and niht meaning "night." In Middle English spellings, forms such as midnyght, midnyht, or midniht appear alongside the standard "midnight." The spelling midniht is thus a recognizable but archaic variant.

Modern usage: In contemporary English, midniht is not standard. It is encountered primarily in linguistic discussions, scholarly editions of early texts, or in poetry and fiction that aim to evoke an antique tone. It may also appear as a proper noun in fictional settings or branding, distinct from the common noun.

In culture and literature: Writers occasionally use midniht to signal old-fashioned language or regional flavor. Some modern games or fantasy works may adopt archaic spellings for place names or events tied to the night or darkness.

See also: Midnight; Old English; Middle English; Scots language.