sombre
pronunciation
How to pronounce sombre in British English:
UK ['sɒmbə(r)]
How to pronounce sombre in American English:
US [ˈsɑmbɚ]
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- Adjective:
- grave or even gloomy in character
- lacking brightness or color; dull
Word Origin
- sombre
- sombre: [18] Something that is sombre is etymologically ‘under a shadow, in the shade’. The word comes from French sombre, an adjective derived ultimately from Vulgar Latin *subombrāre ‘put in shadow, shade’. This was a compound verb formed from Latin sub- ‘under’ and umbra ‘shade, shadow’ (source of English umbrage, umbrella, etc). Another descendant of Vulgar Latin *subombrāre is Spanish sombra ‘shade’, from which was derived sombrero ‘hat for giving shade’, borrowed by English in the 18th century.=> sombrero, umbrage, umbrella
- sombre (adj.)
- chiefly British English spelling of somber (q.v.); for spelling, see -re.
Example
- 1. The bank of england has delivered a sombre warning .
- 2. At that time , the sky was sombre and lonely .
- 3. Does this sombre mood mean that the european project has failed ?
- 4. He is often wooden and unconvincing on the campaign trail , with an unfortunate habit of reciting the lyrics of patriotic songs in a sombre monotone .
- 5. Her own dress was of the coarsest materials and the most sombre hue , with only that one ornament -- the scarlet letter -- which it was her doom to wear .