ombra Italian · revision 39003

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=13th century, Maestro Rinuccino|origins=la umbra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈom.bra/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ombra''' ''f'' (plural ombre)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include ''ónbra'' and ''umbra''.^(GDLI)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|umbra|t=shadow, shade]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The word is found in almost all the Romance languages: [[fr|ombre]], [[oc|ombra]], [[ca|ombra]], [[sc|umbra]] and [[ro|umbră]], while [[es|sombra]] and [[pt|sombra]] have an added ⟨s-⟩, which Körting explains as ⟨sub⟩ + ⟨umbra⟩.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The origin of the Latin word is uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan and the OLD connect it with [[lt|ùnksna|t=shade]] through a form [[itc-pro|*unksrā-]], whose consonant cluster would have become ⟨-mbr-⟩, but find no convincing root.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) DEI, Devoto and Nocentini compare instead [[sa|अन्ध|tr=andha|t=blind]] and Vedic “darkness”, with the suffix of [[la|tenebrae|t=darkness]].^(DEI|2646)^(Devoto 1968)^(Nocentini 2010) Wiktionary also cites an older [[la|*omra]] from a [[ine-pro|*h₂mr-u-]], akin to [[grc|ἀμαυρός|tr=amaurós|t=dark]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the 13th-century poet Maestro Rinuccino, for the lessening of light behind an opaque body;^(DELI 1999) ''umbra'' for a place sheltered from the sun is also 13th-century, and ''ombra'' in that sense appears before 1292 in Bono Giamboni.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian already had most of the modern range: the shadow cast by a body and the souls of the dead in Dante (1300–1313), protection (before 1321), a mere semblance and a tiny amount (Giamboni, Bencivenni), and something unclear that causes suspicion (Dante, 1304–1308).^(DELI 1999) Cennino Cennini, around 1400, used it for the shading in a painting.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Painting also gave the colour ''terra d'ombra'' (before 1574), umber, which French took over as ''terre d'ombre'' in 1562.^(DIFIT) Modern politics took the ''governo ombra'' from English ''shadow cabinet''.^(DELI 1999) In Venice and the Veneto ''un'ombra'' is a small glass of wine, an extension of the sense “small quantity”.^(Cortelazzo & Marcato 1998)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) ''Aver paura della propria ombra'' is found in all the Romance languages and has an exact Latin model, ''umbram suam timere''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Maestro Rinuccino uses ''ombra''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for a shaded place and for a vain semblance.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1300–1313 – Dante uses it for a cast shadow and for a ghost.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Around 1400 – Cennino Cennini uses it for shading in painting.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1574 – ''terra d'ombra'' names the pigment umber.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1942 – ''ombretto'', eyeshadow, is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|shade]]: the darker area where an opaque body blocks direct light, especially sunlight: ''Ci siamo riposati all'ombra di un platano.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The unlit side of a body; in painting or photography, the darker tones: ''il gioco di luci e ombre''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # Darkness: ''Il ladro sparì nell'ombra del vicolo.''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|shadow]], the outline cast on a surface: ''L'ombra del campanile si allungava sulla piazza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A dim, indistinct figure: ''Vidi un'ombra muoversi nel giardino.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A faint stain or mark.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The spirit of a dead person, a [[m|en|ghost]]: ''il regno delle ombre''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Something empty or fleeting; a hint of a feeling; a tiny amount, especially in negative sentences: ''Non c'è ombra di dubbio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A worry or suspicion, or what causes it: ''un'ombra sul loro passato''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(regional, Veneto)'' A small glass of wine.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Cortelazzo & Marcato 1998)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ombreggiare]]

+ * [[ombretto]]

+ * [[ombrello]]

+ * [[ombrellone]]

+ * [[ombrina]]

+ * [[ombroso]]

+ * [[adombrare]]

+ * [[penombra]]

+ * [[ombrare]]

+ * [[ombreggiatura]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[umbratico]]

+ * [[umbratile]]

+ * [[la|umbra]]

+ * [[fr|ombre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''all'ombra di'' (under the protection of), ''fare ombra'' (to overshadow), ''nell'ombra'' (in secret), ''essere l'ombra di sé stesso'' (to be a shadow of one's former self) and ''governo ombra'' (shadow cabinet).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DELI 1999) GRADIT also lists ''ombra'' as a name of some fish of the drum family, the ''Sciaenidae''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}