Adumbrating: meaning, definitions and examples
🔍
adumbrating
[ ədʌm.breɪt ]
to foreshadow
Adumbrating refers to the act of outlining or sketching something in a way that gives a hint or indication of what is to come. It is often used in literary contexts to describe the early hints or signs of future developments in a narrative. The term can also relate to providing incomplete or vague information about something, leaving much to the imagination or interpretation. This word is frequently applied in discussions around storytelling, planning, and previewing concepts.
Synonyms
foreshadowing, hinting, implying, outlining, sketching.
Examples of usage
- The author is adumbrating the main theme in the first chapter.
- The director adumbrated the plot twist in the trailer.
- In her speech, she began adumbrating the future of the project.
Etymology
The word 'adumbrate' comes from the Latin word 'adumbratus', which is the past participle of 'adumbrāre', meaning 'to cast a shadow upon' or 'to shade'. This Latin verb is a combination of two elements: 'ad-', meaning 'to', and 'umbra', meaning 'shadow'. This etymological origin reflects the word's current meaning, which involves presenting a preliminary view or an outline that indicates or suggests something more substantial that will follow. The word has been in use in the English language since the late 16th century, primarily in literary and academic contexts, where it conveys the idea of foreshadowing or hinting at future developments. Over the centuries, 'adumbrate' has maintained its association with the act of providing only a partial representation, whether that be a narrative, a concept, or an argument, allowing room for further elaboration or interpretation later.
Word Frequency Rank
At position #41,164, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.