Shadow Definition

shădō
shadowed, shadowing, shadows
noun
shadows
A definite area of shade on a surface, caused by a body blocking light rays.
Webster's New World
The dark image made by such a body.
Webster's New World
The darkness or diminished light caused by the blocking of a light source.
The back yard is in shadow all day long.
American Heritage
The growing darkness after sunset.
Webster's New World
A shaded area in a picture or X-ray.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
verb
shadowed, shadowing, shadows
To change gradually.
Webster's New World
To shelter from light or heat.
Webster's New World
To throw a shadow upon.
Webster's New World
To shelter; protect.
Webster's New World
To make dark or gloomy; cloud.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
adjective
Not having official status.
A shadow government of exiled leaders; a shadow cabinet.
American Heritage

Of or belonging to a shadow cabinet.

A shadow minister.
Webster's New World
Darker, indistinct, not plainly perceived, etc.
Webster's New World
idiom
in the shadow of
  • very close to; verging upon
  • under the influence or domination of
Webster's New World
under the shadow of
  • in danger of; apparently fated for
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Shadow

Noun

Singular:
shadow
Plural:
shadows

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Shadow

  • in the shadow of
  • under the shadow of

Origin of Shadow

  • From Middle English schadowe, schadewe, schadwe (also schade > shade), from Old English sceaduwe, sceadwe, oblique form of sceadu (“shadow, shade; darkness; protection"), from Proto-Germanic *skadwaz (“shade, shadow"), from Proto-Indo-European *skot- (“darkness"). Cognate with Scots scaddow, schaddow (“shadow"), Saterland Frisian Skaad (“shade, shadow"), Dutch schaduw (“shadow"), German Schatten (“shadow, shade"), Norwegian skodde (“fog, mist"), Irish scáth (“shadow"), Ancient Greek σκότος (skótos, “darkness, gloom").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English sceaduwe oblique case of sceadu shade, shadow

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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