Skip to content

adombrare

to overshadow

verb ah-dohm-BRAH-reh Rare
Communication Speech

Origin: From Latin adumbrare (to sketch in shadow), from ad- + umbra (shadow).

Also means

to hint at

Usage Note

Adombrare is a formal, literary verb with two quite distinct uses: to cast a shadow over something, and to hint at or foreshadow something indirectly. The reflexive adombrarsi means to take offence or become suspicious, used of people or animals that shy away. It takes avere as its auxiliary.

Examples

"Il suo silenzio adombrava una preoccupazione più profonda."

Natural Translation

His silence hinted at a deeper concern.

Explore Italian by topic