moonrise means the time of day or night when the moon begins to rise over the horizon. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 90 out of 100.
moonrise is pronounced /ˈmunˌɹaɪz/.
Why “moonrise” is a great word
MOONRISE — [Noun] The event or moment the moon becomes visible above the horizon. From moon (Old English mōna, meaning the celestial body) + rise (Old English rīsan, meaning to get up, ascend). First recorded in 1720–30. Unlike "moonset," which signals a celestial departure into deeper night, or "sunrise," which heralds a diurnal beginning with assertive fanfare, moonrise is the quiet, silvery arrival of the night's presiding intelligence. It is the first copper sliver cutting the indigo silhouette of a distant ridge, the slow spill of pewter light across a field of dew, and the sudden ladder of light laid across a black sea—a nightly reminder that not all ascents are declarations; some are apparitions of cool and distant observation.
Etymology
From moon + rise.
noun
- The time of day or night when the moon begins to rise over the horizon.“Venus now re-assembles her Choirs of Virgins at Moon-rise, and leads the Ball.”