somber
pronunciation
How to pronounce somber in British English:
UK ['sɒmbə]
How to pronounce somber in American English:
US [ˈsɑmbɚ]
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- Adjective:
- grave or even gloomy in character
- lacking brightness or color; dull
Word Origin
- somber (adj.)
- 1760 "gloomy, shadowy" (earlier sombrous, c. 1730), from French sombre "dark, gloomy," from Old French sombre (14c.), from an adjective from Late Latin subumbrare "to shadow," from sub "under" (see sub-) + umbra "shade, shadow," perhaps from a suffixed form of PIE *andho- "blind, dark" (see umbrage). Related: Somberly; somberness.
Synonym
Example
- 1. The somber mood of the painting .
- 2. My father was known to everyone in and out of the family as the somber bin laden boy who became increasingly occupied with religious teachings .
- 3. The ideal geisha seemed carefree , the ideal wife somber and responsible .
- 4. In writing somber stories , how did you keep yourself grounded , keep yourself from despair as you encountered the injustices you elucidate over and over again ?
- 5. Yet , rublyov 's lyrical gift made him the antipode of theophanes , whose somber , dramatic images were always alien to him .