Adumbration: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ซ๏ธ
adumbration
[ หรฆd.สm.หbreษช.สษn ]
artistic foreshadowing
Adumbration refers to the act of foreshadowing or representing something in a shadowy or obscure way. It is often used in a literary or artistic context to suggest or hint at an idea, theme, or character without explicit detail. The term can also imply a partial or vague representation of something that is more fully developed elsewhere. This can create a sense of mystery or anticipation for the audience, inviting deeper engagement with the material.
Synonyms
foreshadowing, hints, prelude, suggestion
Examples of usage
- The adumbration of the plot kept the readers intrigued.
- In the painting, the adumbration of figures suggests a story untold.
- The author's adumbration of the main character's tragedy foreshadowed future events.
Translations
Translations of the word "adumbration" in other languages:
๐ต๐น sombreamento
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคพเคฏเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Schattierung
๐ฎ๐ฉ bayangan
๐บ๐ฆ ะทะฐััะฝะตะฝะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ cieniowanie
๐ฏ๐ต ้ฐๅฝฑ
๐ซ๐ท ombrage
๐ช๐ธ sombreado
๐น๐ท gรถlgeleme
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ทธ๋ฆผ์
๐ธ๐ฆ ุธู
๐จ๐ฟ stรญn
๐ธ๐ฐ tieล
๐จ๐ณ ้ดๅฝฑ
๐ธ๐ฎ sencenje
๐ฎ๐ธ skuggi
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะบำฉะปะตาฃะบะต
๐ฌ๐ช แฉแ แแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ kรถlgษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ sombreado
Etymology
The word 'adumbration' originates from the Latin 'adumbratio', derived from 'adumbrare', meaning 'to cast a shadow upon' or 'to represent in outline'. This Latin root can be broken down into 'ad', meaning 'to', and 'umbra', meaning 'shadow'. The term has evolved in English usage since the late 16th century, initially used in legal and philosophical texts before making its mark in literary criticism and art. Over the centuries, 'adumbration' has come to not only signify the act of shadowing but also the broader concept of creating hints or suggestions in various forms of expression. Its use reflects the artistic tendency to evoke rather than explain, making it a significant term in discussions about narrative techniques and aesthetic representations.