Why afternoon?

[Chiropteran]

Why do you say "good afternoon" and never "good beforenoon"?

Also, why do you say "good morning", "good night", but never "good noon"?

BTW, good beforenoon everyone!

 

[Red Dawn]

Why ask why?

 

[Dedpuhl]

I guess if it's exactly 12:00 PM, you can say "Good Noon."

 

[dpm]

Oh. Dear. God.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Dedpuhl
I guess if it's exactly 12:00 PM, you can say "Good Noon."

But now it's 12:01. I missed my window 🙁

 

[Electric Amish]

Because "Before Noon" is also known as "Morning"

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Because "Before Noon" is also known as "Morning"

So, why don't you say "good aftermorning"? Since noon does occur AFTER morning.

 

[Dufman]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Why ask why?

drink bud dry?

 

[loup garou]

Why the stupid thread?

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: werk
Why the stupid thread?

Why bump a thread if you think it's stupid?

 

[arcenite]

because anytime after 12 is considered afternoon... i guess if you're really that up tight and you say hello to someone RIGHT WHEN ITS 12:00:00 you can say good noon.

 

[Chiropteran]

Okay, I guess a better question is- Who decided that morning is from sun-up to noon, and noon is just a fleeting moment, and "afternoon" is the unnamed period of time between noon and evening. Why not just call it morning, noon, and evening? Or beforenoon, noon, and afternoon?

 

[ElFenix]

it's meridian!, not noon!

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: werk
Why the stupid thread?

Why bump a thread if you think it's stupid?

becuase his job is to make life that less friendly and useful.

ummm...to answer the question, let me consult my oracle:

i cant really give you a good reason, exactly. but it seems like one of the earliest known account of using it was in the early 1300's.
the context is " 'Go nu,' quap heo, 'sone And send him after none.' "
this seems to suggest that it was merely a poetic turn of phrase that later became more and more popular. subsequent evidence of its usage confirms this theory: "That same day, the aftyr non, the Duke of Yorke roode thoroughe London." etc etc

interestingly, an example from 1601 has an alternative to "morning" you might enjoy using "These men serue God in the fore-noone, and the diuell in the after-noone."