Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The time just before dawn.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Period before the rising of the sun.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

pre- + dawn

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Examples

  • Now days when I put on the muffs in predawn darkness suddenly can hear crickets chirp and distant turkeys gobble.

    A Savage Attack on Scopes 2008

  • To avoid this, the crew works in predawn darkness, hoping their work survives until the "circus" arrives.

    USATODAY.com - Tour cast moves its town along in stages 2002

  • A Libyan government spokesman called the predawn attack by at least two guided bombs a futile attempt on Col.

    Rebel Gains Fail to End Siege of Libyan City Charles Levinson 2011

  • A Libyan government spokesman called the predawn attack with at least two guided bombs a futile attempt on Col.

    NATO Strikes Gadhafi Compound Richard Boudreaux 2011

  • Even though I attended UNC-Chapel Hill I rarely missed the all-night "predawn" concerts in A&T's Moore Gymnasium.

    News & Record Article Feed 2009

  • Even though I attended UNC-Chapel Hill I rarely missed the all-night "predawn" concerts in A&T's Moore Gymnasium.

    News & Record Article Feed 2009

  • Even though I attended UNC-Chapel Hill I rarely missed the all-night "predawn" concerts in A&T's Moore Gymnasium.

    News & Record Article Feed 2009

  • In the predawn strike on the Galaxy Sky compound in Paktia province, the Taliban killed security guards, engineers and laborers, said provincial government spokesman Rohullah Samon.

    Taliban Attack Contractor Compound, Killing 35 Afghans Habib Khan Totakhil 2011

  • In the early predawn hours of Saturday morning, Tomioka authorities decided to evacuate the shelter where Mr. Hayashi had been working and send the refugees to a shelter in Kawauchi, further inland.

    'I Don't Know Where My Family Is' Yoree Koh 2011

  • Approximately half the hostages were slain during the predawn hours, while the remaining half were released after being beaten and tortured.

    A Covert Affair Jennet Conant 2011

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