With night coming on, we started for home.

------------------------
In this sentence, what is the meaning of 'coming' on? Does 'come on' mean 'appear' or 'start'?

1. With night coming on, we started for home.

------------------------
In this sentence, what is the meaning of 'coming' on? Does 'come on' mean 'appear' or 'start'?

2. With night coming, we started for home.
--------------
Can we say like this as in #2 without 'on'?

In this sense, 'coming on' means 'approaching.'

Yes, sentence 2 can be used fine, too.

In the given sentence, "coming on" is a phrasal verb that means "approaching" or "getting closer." It is used to describe the night getting closer or approaching. In this context, "coming on" suggests that nightfall is approaching and becoming imminent.

To determine the meaning of 'coming on' in this sentence, you can look for clues within the sentence itself and consider the surrounding context. In this case, the phrase "With night coming on" implies that the night is approaching or getting closer. Additionally, the phrase "started for home" suggests that the speaker and others are leaving and going home as it is getting dark. Therefore, based on the context and usage, 'coming on' means the night is approaching, rather than simply appearing or starting abruptly.