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adumbrate definition

ad·um·brate (ad um′brāt′, ad′əm brāt′)

transitive verb adumbrated -·brat′ed, adumbrating -·brat′·ing

  1. to outline in a shadowy way; sketch
  2. to suggest beforehand; foreshadow in a vague way
  3. to obscure; overshadow

Etymology: < L adumbratus, pp. of adumbrari, to shade < ad-, to + umbra, shade

Related Forms:

  • adumbration ad′·um·bra′·tion (-brā′s̸hən) noun
  • adumbrative ad·um′·bra·tive (-brə tiv) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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