Day
.When it begins. (1) With sun-set: The Jews in their “sacred year,” and the Church—hence the eve of feast-days; the ancient Britons “non dieʹrum nuʹmerum, ut nos, sed nocʹtium comʹputant,” says Tacitus—hence “seʹnnight” and “fortʹnight;” the Athenians, Chinese, Mahometans, etc., Italians, Austrians, and Bohemians. (2) With sun-rise: The Babylonians, Syrians, Persians, and modern Greeks. (3) With noon: The ancient Egyptians and modern astronomers. (4) With midnight: The English, French, Dutch, Germans, Spanish, Portuguese, Americans, etc.
“Sewing as she did, day in, day out.”—W. E. Wilkins: The Honest Soul.
I have had my day. My prime of life is over; I have been a man of light and leading, but am now “out of the swim.”
“Old Joe, sir … was a bit of a favourite … once; but he has had his day.”—Dickens.
I have lost a day (Perʹdidi diem) was the exclamation of Titus, the Roman emperor, when on one occasion he could call to mind nothing done during the past day for the benefit of his subjects.
