Obumbrant

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Casting a shadow or shade over something ; causing something to be darkened or hidden from view by overshadowing
2. Producing a shaded area that partially blocks light ; making something less visible or clear by covering it with darkness
3. Creating a dim or shadowed effect ; obscuring or concealing something by casting darkness over it

Etymology: Latin "umbra" meant "shade" or "shadow," and it gave English a surprisingly everyday word: "umbrella" comes from "umbella," a diminutive of "umbra," a little shade. The Latin verb "obumbrare" combined "ob-," meaning "over" or "against," with "umbra" to mean "to overshadow." Its present participle, "obumbrans," became the source of this adjective, which describes something that throws a shadow over what lies beneath it. The same root runs through "umbrage." It passed through Old French "ombrage" from Latin "umbraticum," and it first meant shade or shadowy space. Its modern sense of offense developed from the idea of a shadow cast over one's feelings, which is why "to take umbrage" means to become resentful.