Shadowy
/ˈʃæd.oʊ.i/noun
Full of shadow, dimly lit, or suggestive of secrecy or obscurity.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to Proto-Indo-European *skot- meaning “darkness,” the same ancient root behind words like “shade,” “shadow,” and “shed.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skot-
“darkness, obscurity”
Old English
OE
sceadu
“shadow, shade, protection from the sun”
Old English
OE
sceadwīg
“shadowy, shady, dark”
Middle English
ME
shadowi
“having shadows; dim, obscure”
Modern English
English
shadowy
“full of shadow; faint, obscure, or secretive”