somber — dark or dull in color; or serious, sad, and without any joy or brightness
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: dark or dull in color; or serious, sad, and without any joy or brightness
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsɑːm.bər/
Example Sentences
- My cat gave me a somber look after I forgot to feed her—like she was planning my funeral.
- The office fell into a somber silence when the boss announced the coffee machine was broken.
- She wore a somber expression during the entire meeting about budget cuts.
somber
ADJECTIVE[/ˈsɑːm.bər/]
dark or dull in color; or serious, sad, and without any joy or brightness
The funeral hall felt somber as mourners quietly said goodbye.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Somber derives from French 'sombre', which originated in Latin from the combination of 'sub-' (under) and 'umbra' (shadow). The literal sense of being 'under shadow' evolved metaphorically to denote darkness and melancholy, as areas beneath shadows are dim and evoke somber moods.
Breakdown
sub- (under) + umbra (shadow) = Latin 'subumbrare', which evolved into French 'sombre' and then English 'somber', literally meaning 'under shadow' and figuratively 'dark or gloomy in mood'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat gave me a somber look after I forgot to feed her—like she was planning my funeral.”
“The office fell into a somber silence when the boss announced the coffee machine was broken.”
“She wore a somber expression during the entire meeting about budget cuts.”
“The somber painting depicted a stormy sea under a dark sky.”
📚Related Words
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