Adumbration: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŒซ๏ธ
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adumbration

 

[ หŒรฆd.สŒm.หˆbreษช.สƒษ™n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

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:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sombreamento

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค›เคพเคฏเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Schattierung

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ bayangan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทะฐั‚ั–ะฝะตะฝะฝั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ cieniowanie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้™ฐๅฝฑ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท ombrage

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sombreado

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gรถlgeleme

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ทธ๋ฆผ์ž

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุธู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ stรญn

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ tieลˆ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้˜ดๅฝฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ sencenje

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ skuggi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะบำฉะปะตาฃะบะต

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฉแƒ แƒ“แƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kรถlgษ™

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ 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.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,683, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.