English Explanatory Dictionary

overshadow

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To obscure something by casting a shadow.
  2. To dominate something and make it seem insignificant.
  3. To shelter or protect.

Pronunciation

/ˌəʊ.vəˈʃæd.əʊ/ /ˌoʊ.vɚˈʃæd.oʊ/ en-us-overshadow.ogg en-au-overshadow.ogg

Word forms

overshadow overshadows overshadowing overshadowed

Etymology

From Middle English overschadwen, overschadewe, from Old English ofersċeadwian (“to overshadow”), equivalent to over- + shadow. Compare with West Frisian oerskaduwe (“to overshadow”), Dutch overschaduwen (“to overshadow”), German überschatten (“to overshadow”), Gothic 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (ufarskadwjan, “to overshadow”), and more distantly, Old Norse yfirskyggja (“to overshadow”), Danish overskygge (“to overshadow”), Swedish överskugga (“to overshadow”), Old English ofersċūwan (“to overshadow”).

Synonyms

eclipse outshadow outshine outdo put to shame upstage surpass outmatch outstrip dwarf

Derived words

overshadower overshadowingly overshadowment
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