night-watch
Sentry after sunset
Night-watch is a guard kept during the night, or the period during which such guard is maintained.
By extension, a night-watch is a person or group assigned to this duty: The night-watch discovered the broken window around 3 a.m.
The term evokes an era before electric lighting, when darkness posed real danger and someone had to stay awake while others slept.
Guard who monitors
- sentryGuard on duty
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- lookoutWatcher or vista point
- constableLow-ranking peace officer
warden · custodian · gatekeeper · keeper · officer · overseer · rounds · beat
Systematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- protectionGuarding against harm
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- overwatchProtective surveillance position
garrison · perimeter · alarm · breach · intruder · trespass · secure · defend
Total absence of light
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
- starsLuminous celestial bodies
- shadowsDark areas from blocked light
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
silence · owl · crickets · prowl · hours · lamplight · predawn · nightfall
Complete separation from others
- lonelinessState of lacking companions
- quietudeState of calm stillness
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
stillness · peacefulness · contemplation · silence · withdrawal · emptiness · alienation · boredom
State of being conscious
- candlelightLuminescence from burning wick
- prayerAddress to deity
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- meditationFocused attention practice
contemplation · reverence · observance · waiting · bedside · deathbed · memorial · mourning
sentinel
Guard who monitors
constable · warden · custodian · gatekeeper · keeper · officer · overseer · rounds · beat · post
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- protectionGuarding against harm
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
overwatch · garrison · perimeter · alarm · breach · intruder · trespass · secure · defend · deter
darkness
Total absence of light
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
- starsLuminous celestial bodies
- shadowsDark areas from blocked light
stillness · silence · owl · crickets · prowl · hours · lamplight · predawn · nightfall · gloom
isolation
Complete separation from others
- lonelinessState of lacking companions
- quietudeState of calm stillness
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
seclusion · stillness · peacefulness · contemplation · silence · withdrawal · emptiness · alienation · boredom · monotony
wakefulness
State of being conscious
- candlelightLuminescence from burning wick
- prayerAddress to deity
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
meditation · contemplation · reverence · observance · waiting · bedside · deathbed · memorial · mourning · faithful
night-watchday shift
Work period during sunlight
morning watch · morning shift · afternoon shift · first watch · swing shift
night, watch, nights, nightly, nighttime, overnight, midnight, fortnight, watches