Word of the day.
nychthemeron (nik-THEM-er-on) noun
A full period of a day and night: 24 hours.
[From Greek, a combination of nykt- (night) and hemera (day).]
Ever wondered why day and night were divided into 12 hours? The number 12 is not as random as it sounds. There are 12 moons in a year. The number 12 is easy to divide into halves, thirds, and quarters. Also, some cultures counted in base 12: three joints on each finger (thumb as the counter).
A full period of a day and night: 24 hours.
[From Greek, a combination of nykt- (night) and hemera (day).]
Ever wondered why day and night were divided into 12 hours? The number 12 is not as random as it sounds. There are 12 moons in a year. The number 12 is easy to divide into halves, thirds, and quarters. Also, some cultures counted in base 12: three joints on each finger (thumb as the counter).
posted by littledevilworks at 10:27 AM
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