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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ad·um·brate \\ˈa-dəm-ˌbrāt, a-ˈdəm-\\ transitive verb ( -brat·ed ; -brat·ing) ETYMOLOGY Latin adumbratus, past participle of adumbrare, from ad- + umbra shadow — more at umbrage
DATE 1581
1. to foreshadow vaguely : intimate 2. to suggest, disclose, or outline partially adumbrate a plan3. overshadow , obscure • ad·um·bra·tion \\ˌa-(ˌ)dəm-ˈbrā-shən\\ noun• ad·um·bra·tive \\a-ˈdəm-brə-tiv\\ adjective• ad·um·bra·tive·ly adverb
adumbrate
"to outline, to sketch," 1580s, from L. adumbrat-, pp. stem of adumbrare "to cast a shadow," also "to represent (a thing) in outline" (see adumbration).
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 adumbratead·um·brate / 5AdEmbreit; NAmE also E5dem- / verb[VN] ( formal) to give a general idea or description of sth without details 概述；概括说明；勾画轮廓 SYN outline
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged ad·um·brate\ˈadəmˌbrāt, aˈd-, əˈd-\ transitive verb( -ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Latin adumbratus, past participle of adumbrare, from ad- + umbra shadow — more at umbrage 1. a. : to foreshadow, symbolize, or prefigure especially in a not altogether conclusive or not immediately evident way < social unrest adumbrated the French Revolution > b. : to suggest, indicate, or point out in advance < an invention that adumbrated automation > c. : foresee , predict 2. a. : to give a sketchy representation of : outline broadly, omitting details < there was only time to adumbrate the plan > b. : to suggest, indicate, or disclose partially and with a purposeful avoidance of precision < the meaning of the poem is adumbrated in its title >3. a. : shade b. : to cast a shadow over : darken : throw a gloomy pall upon < bubbling optimism, not at all adumbrated by difficulties > c. : to conceal partially : obscure
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