shade

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
  2. noun a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
  3. noun protective covering that protects something from direct sunlight

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English schade, from Old English sċeadu, from Proto-West Germanic *skadu, from Proto-Germanic *skaduz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₃tús, from *(s)ḱeh₃-. Doublet of shadow. Cognate with Ancient Greek σκότος (skótos) (whence English scoto-) and σκιά (skiá) (whence English scia-, and uncertainly via σκίουρος (skíouros) English squirrel).

In classic literature

Synonyms

shadiness, shadowiness

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