English
lowlight
From low + light.
Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- ‘to lie’
…
Proto-Germanic *ligjaną ‘to lie’
Proto-Germanic *lēgaz ‘low’
Old Norse lágr
Middle English lāh
English low
Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘to shine’
…
Proto-Germanic *leuhtą
Proto-West Germanic *leuht ‘light’
Old English lēoht
Middle English light ‘light, illumination’
English light
The story
Formed by analogy with highlight.
Today it means
noun A particularly unfavorable or mediocre moment or aspect.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / lowlight