adumbrate

[ ad-uhm-breyt, a-duhm-breyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ad·um·brat·ed, ad·um·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.

adumbrate

/ ædˈʌmbrətɪv; ˈædʌmˌbreɪt /

verb

1. to outline; give a faint indication of
2. to foreshadow
3. to overshadow; obscure

Derived Forms

• ˌadumˈbration, noun
• adˈumbratively, adverb
• adumbrative, adjective

Other Words From

• ad·um·bra·tion [ad-, uh, m-, brey, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adumbrate¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin adumbrātus “shaded,” past participle of adumbrāre “to shade,” from ad- ad- + umbr(a) “shade, shadow” + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of adumbrate¹

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

Example Sentences

There had, in truth, scarcely yet been time enough to adumbrate the possibilities opened up by this gentleman's return.

From Project Gutenberg

Feeble is human speech to deal with such high matters, serving, at the best, but dimly to adumbrate ineffable truths.

From Project Gutenberg

From now onwards the speeches of Brutus strangely adumbrate those of Hamlet.

From Project Gutenberg

Two short passages adumbrate the coming Tennyson, the rest is mystic nonsense.

From Project Gutenberg

A type is a symbol appointed by God to adumbrate something higher in the future, which is called the antitype.

From Project Gutenberg