adumbration

Meaning

1. (uncountable) The state of being in shadow or shade; (countable) a shadow.
2. (countable) A faint sketch; a brief representation, an outline.
3. (countable, rare, specifically, uncountable) A faint sketch; a brief representation, an outline.
4. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A rough or symbolic representation; a vague indication of what is to come, a foreshadowing.
5. (countable, specifically) The form of an object as seen by an observer.

Synonyms

sketch

prefiguration

delineation

outline

shade

foreshadowing

obscuration

ombre

overshadowing

preliminary sketch

prelude

rough draft

rough sketch

scantling

scheme

shadow

sketching

sketch map

umbra

thumbnail sketch

design

sketch plan

diagrammatic drawing

sketch drawing

skeleton layout

rude drawing

apercu

in umbra

depiction

draft

draft copy

drafting

intro

Translations

afschaduwing

denotazione

alusión

Andeutung

ombra

prefigurazione

precorrimento

schaduw

ombra

bosquejo

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌædʌmˈbɹeɪʃ(ə)n/

Etymology

From Latin adumbrātiō (“sketch; outline, silhouette; pretence, semblance”) + -ion (suffix indicating a condition or state). Adumbrātiō is derived from adumbrāre (present active infinitive of adumbrō (“to represent an object with light and shade, to shade; to represent in outline, to outline, silhouette, sketch; to cast a shadow on, overshadow, shade; to copy, counterfeit, imitate”)) + -tiō (suffix forming nouns relating to actions or the results of actions). Adumbrō is derived from ad- (prefix meaning ‘to, towards’) + umbrō (“to cast a shadow, to shade; to overshadow”) (from umbra (“shade; shadow; ghost”)).