Somber
/ˈsɑːm.bɚ/noun
Dark, gloomy, or melancholy in mood, tone, or appearance.
Did you know?Somber entered English through French, ultimately from Latin umbra, the same root behind words tied to shade, shadow, and even the eerie idea of an apparition.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
umbra
“shadow, shade, darkness”
Late Latin
Late Latin
subumbrare
“to cast a shadow over”
Old French
Old French
sombre
“dark, shadowy, dim”
Middle English
English
somer / sombre
“dark, gloomy”
Modern English
English
somber
“darkly serious or melancholy”