adumbrate

[ a-duhm-breyt, ad-uh m-breyt ]
/ æˈdʌm breɪt, ˈæd əmˌbreɪt /

verb (used with object), ad·um·brat·ed, ad·um·brat·ing.

to produce a faint image or resemblance of; to outline or sketch.
to foreshadow; prefigure.
to darken or conceal partially; overshadow.

Origin of adumbrate

1575–85; < Latin adumbrātus shaded (past participle of adumbrāre), equivalent to ad- ad- + umbr(a) shade, shadow + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM adumbrate

ad·um·bra·tion, noun

Words nearby adumbrate

Example sentences from the Web for adumbrate

British Dictionary definitions for adumbrate

adumbrate
/ (ˈædʌmˌbreɪt) /

verb (tr)

to outline; give a faint indication of
to foreshadow
to overshadow; obscure

Derived forms of adumbrate

adumbration, noun adumbrative (ædˈʌmbrətɪv), adjective adumbratively, adverb

Word Origin for adumbrate

C16: from Latin adumbrātus represented only in outline, from adumbrāre to cast a shadow on, from umbra shadow