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adumbration

 - 3 dictionary results

ad⋅um⋅brate

  [a-duhm-breyt, ad-uhm-breyt]
Use adumbration in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -brat⋅ed, -brat⋅ing.
1. to produce a faint image or resemblance of; to outline or sketch.
2. to foreshadow; prefigure.
3. to darken or conceal partially; overshadow.
Origin:
1575–85; < L adumbrātus shaded (ptp. of adumbrāre), equiv. to ad- ad- + umbr(a) shade, shadow + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
ad⋅um⋅bra⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ad·um·brate   (ād'əm-brāt', ə-dŭm'-)   
tr.v.   ad·um·brat·ed, ad·um·brat·ing, ad·um·brates

  1. To give a sketchy outline of.

  2. To prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow.

  3. To disclose partially or guardedly.

  4. To overshadow; shadow or obscure.


[Latin adumbrāre, adumbrāt-, to represent in outline : ad-, ad- + umbra, shadow.]
ad'um·bra'tion n., ad·um'bra·tive (ə-dŭm'brə-tĭv) adj., ad·um'bra·tive·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

adumbration 
1531, from L. adumbrationem (nom. adumbratio) "a sketch in shadow, sketch, outline," from adumbratus, pp. of adumbrare "to cast a shadow, overshadow, represent (a thing) in outline," from ad- "to" + umbrare "to cast in shadow," from PIE *andho- "blind, dark."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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