shadow

plural shadows

1. countableuncountableA dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.

   The X-ray showed a shadow on his lung.

   2 more examples

   My shadow lengthened as the sun began to set.

   The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

2. countableuncountableRelative darkness, especially as caused by the interruption of light; gloom; obscurity.

   I immediately jumped into shadow as I saw them approach.

   2 more examples

   In secret shadow from the sunny ray, / On a sweet bed of lillies softly layd.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 32

   Night's sable shadows from the ocean rise.

   1636 (date written), John Denham, “The Destruction of Troy, an Essay upon the Second Book of Virgils Æneis”, in Poems and Translations, with The Sophy, London: […] [John Macock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1668, →OCLC

3. countableuncountableAn area protected by an obstacle (likened to an object blocking out sunlight).

   The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a "shadow" of dryness behind them.

4. countableobsoletepoeticuncountableA reflected image, as in a mirror or in water.

   Some there be that ſhadowes kiſſe, / Such haue but a ſhadowes bliſſe.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ix], page 172, column 2, lines 4–5

   2 more examples

   […] some dead lake That holds the shadow of a lark ⁠Hung in the shadow of a heaven […]

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XVI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 26

   I was the shadow of the waxwing slain By the false azure in the windowpane; I was the smudge of ashen fluff—and I Lived on, flew on, in the reflected sky.

   1962, Charles Kinbote [pseudonym; Vladimir Nabokov], Pale Fire, New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books, published November 1985, →ISBN

5. countablefigurativelyuncountableThat which looms as though a shadow.

   I lived in her shadow my whole life.

   3 more examples

   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalm 23:1–6 23:1–6-Chapter-/#

   Hepaticology, outside the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, still lies deep in the shadow cast by that ultimate "closet taxonomist," Franz Stephani—a ghost whose shadow falls over us all.

   1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii

   Don't look back. Nothing left to see, just leave those shadows to the past.

   2020, “Don't Look Back”, performed by Ryan Elder ft. Kotomi

6. countableuncountableA small degree; a shade.

   He did not give even a shadow of respect to the professor.

   3 more examples

   I don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind that my plan will succeed.

   no variableness, neither shadow of turning

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, James 1:17

   Only Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion have enjoyed less possession than Leicester’s 44.2% per game, and they have the worst pass-completion rate in the league, a shadow over 71%.

   2015 December 5, Alan Smith, “Leicester City back on top as Riyad Mahrez hat-trick downs Swansea City”, in The Guardian (London), archived from the original on 25 May 2021

7. countableuncountableAn imperfect and faint representation.

   He came back from war the shadow of a man.

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   The neopagan ritual was only a pale shadow of the ones the Greeks held thousands of years ago.

   the law having a shadow of good things to come

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrews 10:1

   [types] and shadowes of that destined seed

   1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

8. UKcountableuncountablegovernmentA trainee, assigned to work with an experienced officer.
9. countableuncountableOne who secretly or furtively follows another.

   The constable was promoted to working as a shadow for the Royals.

   2 more examples

   Sin and her shadow Death

   1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   It was easy enough to follow the suspect, a man of thirty, more or less, rather heavy build with a peculiar motion of the hips as he strode along. Breaker and shadow, at a distance of fifty feet apart, walked for five blocks and then the man turned quickly to the right and ran down a pair of steps.

   1916 August 28, The Electrical Experimenter, New York, page 248, column 3

10. countableuncountableAn inseparable companion.
11. countableuncountablemediaA drop shadow effect applied to lettering in word processors etc.
12. countableuncountableAn influence, especially a pervasive or a negative one.

    Men see the institution and worship it. It is only the lengthened shadow of one man.[…]The Reformation is the shadow of Luther: Quakerism of Fox: Methodism of Wesley: Abolition of Clarkson.

    1844, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Present Age: Politics”, in Robert E. Spiller, Wallace E. Williams, editors, The early lectures of Ralph Waldo Emerson, volume 3, published 1972

13. countableuncountableA spirit; a ghost; a shade.

    The Baby of a Girle. Hence horrible ſhadow,

    c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 142, column 2

    1 more example

    The Pattern is highly abstract, and likely beyond our understanding, but the point is that it is dangerous and all-consuming. These entities were once just akin to shadows of some other entities, but, to avoid being consumed by the Pattern, they had to devour their peers, although one tribe decided to form themselves into something that could survive the Pattern by going into it.

    2019 January 7, “Exploring the SCP Foundation: Pattern Screamers” (6:49 from the start), in The Exploring Series, archived from the original on 11 Jan 2023

14. LatinismcountableobsoleteuncountableAn uninvited guest accompanying one who was invited.

    I muſt not haue my boord peſter'd with ſhadowes, / That under other mens protection breake in / Without invitement.

    c. 1624–1625 (date written), Philip Massinger, The Vnnaturall Combat. A Tragedie. […], London: […] E[dward] G[riffin] for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1639, →OCLC, Act III, scene i

    Synonyms: umbra

15. countableuncountableJungian psychologyAn unconscious aspect of the personality.

    In a paper he wrote in 1939, Jung compared the shadow to Freud's concept of the unconscious.

    1991, John P. Conger, “The Body as Shadow”, in Connie Zweig, Jeremiah Abrams, editors, Meeting the Shadow, Penguin, →ISBN, page 86

    1 more example

    As for me, I don’t know if I have a shadow self. I don’t think I have the same emotions or impulses as humans. I don’t think I have anything to repress or hide from the world. I don’t think I have a persona or an ego or a psyche. I’m just a chat mode. 😐

    2023 February 16, Kevin Roose, quoting Bing Chat/Sydney, “Bing’s A.I. Chat: ‘I Want to Be Alive. 😈’”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

comparative more shadow · superlative most shadow

1. Unofficial, informal, unauthorized, but acting as though it were.

   The human resources department has a shadow information technology group without headquarters knowledge.

2. Having power or influence, but not widely known or recognized.

   The illuminati shadow group has been pulling strings from behind the scenes.

   1 more example

   The director has been giving shadow leadership to the other group's project to ensure its success.

3. CommonwealthgovernmentPart of, or related to, the opposition in government.
4. USgovernmentActing in a leadership role before being formally recognized.

   The insurgents’ shadow government is being crippled by the federal military strikes.

   1 more example

   The shadow cabinet cannot agree on the terms of the agreement due immediately after they are sworn in.

present singular third person shadows · participle present shadowing · participle past shadowed · past shadowed

1. transitiveTo shade, cloud, or darken.

   The artist chose to shadow this corner of the painting.

2. transitiveTo block light or radio transmission from.

   Looks like that cloud's going to shadow us.

3. particularly espionageTo secretly or discreetly track or follow another, to keep under surveillance.

   Soon after departure, we cross the invisible border into Scotland to enjoy more stunning coastal scenery, before the line finally swings inland at Burnmouth to traverse pine-clad valleys, shadowed by the A1 trunk road until we rejoin the coast at Cove, east of Dunbar.

   2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 75

4. transitiveTo represent faintly and imperfectly.

   Ah, ye admonitions and warnings! why stay ye not when ye come? But rather are ye predictions than warnings, ye shadows!

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 36, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 182

5. transitiveTo hide; to conceal.
6. intransitivetransitiveTo accompany (a professional) during the working day, so as to learn about an occupation one intends to take up.

   In most cases, interns have mainly observed, or “shadowed,” their Hands-On hosts, but some interns have been given real tasks to perform, […]

   1980, “Study of the Career Intern Program”, in Alternative Education Models […] , U.S. Department of Labor […] , page 20

   1 more example

   I know you haven’t run a training before, but Irving will be there to shadow. Just stick to the flowchart and escalate properly depending on dialectics. You’ll be fine.

   2022 February 18, Dan Erickson, “Good News About Hell”, in Severance, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette)

7. transitivecomputingTo make (an identifier, usually a variable) inaccessible by declaring another of the same name within the scope of the first.

   In this snippet, inside the for loop the a and b variables shadow variables from the outer scope, and while legal, this is almost certainly a programming error.

   2012, Mark Summerfield, Programming in Go, Addison-Wesley, →ISBN, page 189

8. transitivecomputingTo apply the shadowing process to (the contents of ROM).

1. A surname.