Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Shadow?

\Shad"ow\ (sh[a^]d"[-o]), n. [Originally the same word as shade. [root]162. See {Shade}.] 1. Shade within defined limits; obscurity or deprivation of light, apparent on a surface, and representing the form of the body which intercepts the rays of light; as, the shadow of a man, of a tree, or of a tower. See the Note under {Shade}, n., 1. 2. Darkness; shade; obscurity. Night's sable shadows from the ocean rise. --Denham. 3. A shaded place; shelter; protection; security. In secret shadow from the sunny ray, On a sweet bed of lilies softly laid. --Spenser. 4. A reflected image, as in a mirror or in water. --Shak. 5. That which follows or attends a person or thing like a shadow; an inseparable companion; hence, an obsequious follower. Sin and her shadow Death. --Milton. 6. A spirit; a ghost; a shade; a phantom. ``Hence, horrible shadow!'' --Shak. 7. An imperfect and faint representation; adumbration; indistinct image; dim bodying forth; hence, mystical representation; type. The law having a shadow of good things to come. --Heb. x. 1. [Types] and shadows of that destined seed. --Milton. 8. A small degree; a shade. ``No variableness, neither shadow of turning.'' --James i. 17. 9. An uninvited guest coming with one who is invited. [A Latinism] --Nares. I must not have my board pastered with shadows That under other men's protection break in Without invitement. --Massinger. {Shadow of death}, darkness or gloom like that caused by the presence or the impending of death. --Ps. xxiii. 4.
\Shad"ow\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shadowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shadowing}.] [OE. shadowen, AS. sceadwian. See {adow}, n.] 1. To cut off light from; to put in shade; to shade; to throw a shadow upon; to overspead with obscurity. The warlike elf much wondered at this tree, So fair and great, that shadowed all the ground. --Spenser. 2. To conceal; to hide; to screen. [R.] Let every soldier hew him down a bough. And bear't before him; thereby shall we shadow The numbers of our host. --Shak. 3. To protect; to shelter from danger; to shroud. Shadowing their right under your wings of war. --Shak. 4. To mark with gradations of light or color; to shade. 5. To represent faintly or imperfectly; to adumbrate; hence, to represent typically. Augustus is shadowed in the person of [AE]neas. --Dryden. 6. To cloud; to darken; to cast a gloom over. The shadowed livery of the burnished sun. --Shak. Why sad? I must not see the face O love thus shadowed. --Beau. & Fl. 7. To attend as closely as a shadow; to follow and watch closely, especially in a secret or unobserved manner; as, a detective shadows a criminal.