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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Shadow


SHAD'OW, noun

1. Shade within defined limits; obscurity or deprivation of light, apparent on a plane and represtnting the form of the body which intercepts the rays of light; as the shadow of a man, of a tree or a tower. The shadow of the earth in in an eclipse of the moon is proof of its sphericity.

2. Darkness; shade; obscurity.

Night's sable shadows from the ocean rise. Denham.

3. Shelter made by any thing that intercepts the light, heat or influence of the air.

In secret shadow from the sunny ray,

On a sweet bed of lilies softly laid. Spenser.

4. Obscure place; secluded retreat.

To secret shadows I retire. [Obs.] Dryden.

5. Dark part of a picture. Obs. [In the last two senses, shade is now used.]

6. A spirit; a ghost. Obs. [In this sense, shade is now used.]

7. In painting, the representation of a real shadow

8. An imperfect and faint representation; opposed to substance.

The law of having a shadow of good things to come. Hebrews 10:1.

9. Inseparable companion.

Sin and her shadow, death. Milton.

10. Type; mystical representaion.

Types and shadows of that destin'd seed. Milton.

11. Protection; shelter; favor.

12. Slight or faint appearance.

Shadow of death, terrible darkness, trouble or death.

SHAD'OW, verb transitive

1. To overspread with obscurity.

The warlike elf much wonder'd at this tree

So fair and great, that shadow'd all the ground. Spenser. [Shade is more generally used.]

2. To cloud; to darken.

The shadow'd livery of the burning sun. Shak.

3. To make cool; to refresh by shade; or to shade.

Flowery fields and shadowed waters. Sidney.

4. To conceal; to hide; to screen.

Let every soldier hew him down a bough,

And bear't before him; thereby shall we shadow

The number of our host. [Unusual.] Shak.

5. To protect; to screen from danger; to shroud.

Shadowing their right under your wings of war. Shak.

6. To mark with slight gradations of color or light. [In this sense, shade is chiefly used.]

7. to paint in obscure colors; as void spaces deeply shadowed.

8. To represent faintly or imperfectly.

Augustus is shadowed in the person of adjectiveEneas. Dryden.

9. To represent typically. The healing power of the serpent shadoweth the efficacy of Christ's righteousness. [The two last senses are in use. In place of the others, shade is now more generally used.]