The spelling of the phrase "last sleeps" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word "last" is pronounced /læst/ and the word "sleeps" is pronounced /sliːps/. The final "s" in "last" is pronounced as /s/ while the final "s" in "sleeps" is pronounced as /z/. This difference in the final consonant sound indicates the plural form of "sleeps." Therefore, "last sleeps" refers to the final periods of rest before death.
Last sleeps, noun
Definition:
Last sleeps refers to the final stage of sleep before waking up or being awakened from slumber. It represents the last phase of the night's sleep cycle, usually occurring during the early morning hours. Last sleeps are typically characterized by lighter and more fragmented sleep patterns compared to earlier stages of sleep.
In this context, "last" signifies the concluding period of sleep, indicating the approaching end of the sleep cycle. "Sleeps" here implies the act or state of sleeping, suggesting that this phase represents the closing moments of a night's rest. During the last sleeps, individuals may experience more frequent awakenings and a greater likelihood of recalling dreams due to the brain transitioning into a more wakeful state.
As the body prepares itself to wake up, last sleeps serve as a bridge between deeper sleep stages, such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and complete wakefulness. These final moments of sleep help facilitate the transition to an awakened state, providing a rejuvenating effect and leaving one feeling refreshed and ready to begin the day.
While the duration of last sleeps can vary from person to person, it is generally accepted that this stage occurs shortly before morning wakefulness. Understanding the significance and characteristics of last sleeps enhances our comprehension of the sleep cycle's intricacies and can contribute to overall knowledge of sleep physiology.
The combination of the words "last" and "sleeps" does not have a specific etymology. Instead, we can explore the origins of each word individually.
- "Last": This word comes from Middle English "lasten" from Old English "lǣstan", meaning "to continue, endure". Its roots can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*lēstijaną", which means "to follow, pursue".
- "Sleeps": This word comes from Middle English "slep" from Old English "slǣp", which means "sleep, vision during sleep, dream, state of being asleep". It goes back to the Proto-Germanic word "*slepą" and can be linked to various similar words in Germanic languages.