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Nocturnal Night ə Latin  A  Late Adjective From 

Title nocturnal
Text
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
noc·tur·nal
 \\näk-ˈtər-nəl\\ adjective
 ETYMOLOGY  Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French nocturnel, from Late Latin nocturnalis, from Latin nocturnus of night, nocturnal, from noct-, nox night
 DATE  15th century
1. of, relating to, or occurring in the night
    nocturnal journey
2. active at night
    nocturnal predator
• noc·tur·nal·ly 
 \\-nəl-ē\\ adverb
English Etymology
nocturnal
  1485, from 
M.Fr
http://M.Fr
. nocturnal, from L.L. nocturnalis, from L.nocturnus "belonging to the night," from nox (gen. noctis) "night," cognate with O.E. neaht (see night) + -urnus, suffix forming adjectives of time. Nocturnal emission "involuntary ejaculation during sleep" first recorded 1821.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
nocturnal
noc·tur·nal nCk5tE:nlNAmE nB:k5tE:rnl / adjective1. (of animals 动物) active at night
   夜间活动的
   OPP  
diurnal
 
2. (formal) happening during the night
   夜间发生的:
   a nocturnal visit 
   夜访 
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
Search result show the entry is found in: nocturnal emission

noc·tur·nal
I. \(ˈ)näk|tərnəl, -tə̄n-\ adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French nocturnal, nocturnel, from Late Latin nocturnalis, from Latin nocturnus of night, nocturnal + -alis -al; akin to Latin nox night — more at 
night
1. : of or relating to night : done, held, or occurring in the night
 nocturnal darkness >
 < a nocturnal journey >
2. 
 a. : active at night — used of animals and sometimes plants that perform most of their functions (as feeding, breeding, or blooming) at night; compare 
diurnal
 b. : characterized by nocturnal activity
  < a nocturnal form of filariasis >
  < a nocturnal flower >
3. : suggestive of or having the character of a nocturne
4. of a sign of the zodiac : 
even
 5a
• noc·tur·nal·ly \-əlē, -əli\ adverb
II. noun
(-s)
1. : night piecespecifically : a play in which the action takes place to a considerable extent on a darkened stage
2. : one that is abroad or active at night : 
nightwalker
3. : an astrolabe formerly used for finding the time at night or determining latitude

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