wear to a shadow - definition of wear to a shadow by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

shad·ow (sh

)

1. An area that is not or is only partially irradiated or illuminated because of the interception of radiation by an opaque object between the area and the source of radiation.

2. The rough image cast by an object blocking rays of illumination. See Synonyms at shade.

3. An imperfect imitation or copy.

4. shadows The darkness following sunset.

5. A feeling or cause of gloom or unhappiness: The argument cast a shadow on their friendship.

a. A nearby or adjoining region; vicinity: grew up in the shadow of the ballpark.

b. A dominating presence or influence: spent years working in the shadow of the lab director.

a. A darkened area of skin under the eye. Often used in the plural.

b. An incipient growth of beard that makes the skin look darker.

8. A shaded area in a picture or photograph.

9. A mirrored image or reflection.

10. A phantom; a ghost.

11.

a. One, such as a detective or spy, that follows or trails another.

b. A constant companion.

c. Sports A player who guards an opponent closely.

12. A faint indication; a foreshadowing.

13. A vestige or inferior form: shadows of their past achievements.

14. An insignificant portion or amount; a trace: beyond a shadow of a doubt.

15. Shelter; protection: under the shadow of their corporate sponsor.

v. shad·owed, shad·ow·ing, shad·ows

v.tr.

1. To cast a shadow on; shade.

2. To make gloomy or dark; cloud.

3. To represent vaguely, mysteriously, or prophetically.

4. To darken in a painting or drawing; shade in.

5. To follow, especially in secret; trail.

6. Sports To guard (an opponent) closely throughout the playing area, especially in ice hockey.

v.intr.

1. To change by gradual degrees.

2. To become clouded over as if with shadows: Her face shadowed with sorrow.

adj.

Not having official status: a shadow government of exiled leaders; a shadow cabinet.

[Middle English, from Old English sceaduwe, oblique case of sceadu, shade, shadow.]

shadow·er n.

Word History: Shade and shadow are not only related in meaning; historically they are the same word. In Old English, the ancestor of Modern English spoken a thousand years ago, nouns were inflected; that is, they had different forms depending on how they were used in a sentence. One of the inflected forms of the Old English noun sceadu, translatable as either "shade" or "shadow," was sceaduwe; this form was used when the word was preceded by a preposition (as in in sceaduwe, "in the shade, in shadow"). As time went on these two forms of the same word were interpreted as two separate words. The same thing happened to other Old English words, too: our mead and meadow come from two different case-forms of the same Old English word for "meadow."

shadow

Noun

1. a dark image or shape cast on a surface when something stands between a light and the surface

2. a patch of shade

3. the dark portions of a picture

4. a hint or faint trace: a shadow of a doubt

5. a person less powerful or vigorous than his or her former self

6. a threatening influence: news of the murder cast a shadow over the village

7. a person who always accompanies another

8. a person who trails another in secret, such as a detective

Adjective

Brit & Austral designating a member or members of the main opposition party in Parliament who would hold ministerial office if their party were in power: the shadow chancellor

Verb

1. to cast a shade or shadow over

2. to make dark or gloomy

3. to follow or trail secretly [Old English sceadwe]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	shadow - shade within clear boundaries shade, shadiness, shadowiness - relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body; "it is much cooler in the shade"; "there's too much shadiness to take good photographs" umbra - a region of complete shadow resulting from total obstruction of light penumbra - a fringe region of partial shadow around an umbra
	2.	shadow - an unilluminated area; "he moved off into the darkness" darkness, dark scene - the place where some action occurs; "the police returned to the scene of the crime"
	3.	shadow - something existing in perception only; "a ghostly apparition at midnight" fantasm, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, apparition flying saucer, UFO, unidentified flying object - an (apparently) flying object whose nature is unknown; especially those considered to have extraterrestrial origins Flying Dutchman - a phantom ship that is said to appear in storms near the Cape of Good Hope ghost, specter, wraith, spectre, spook, shade - a mental representation of some haunting experience; "he looked like he had seen a ghost"; "it aroused specters from his past" illusion, semblance - an erroneous mental representation
	4.	shadow - a premonition of something adverse; "a shadow over his happiness" boding, foreboding, premonition, presentiment - a feeling of evil to come; "a steadily escalating sense of foreboding"; "the lawyer had a presentiment that the judge would dismiss the case"
	5.	shadow - an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension" vestige, tincture, trace footprint - a trace suggesting that something was once present or felt or otherwise important; "the footprints of an earlier civilization" indicant, indication - something that serves to indicate or suggest; "an indication of foul play"; "indications of strain"; "symptoms are the prime indicants of disease"
	6.	shadow - refuge from danger or observation; "he felt secure in his father's shadow" recourse, refuge, resort - something or someone turned to for assistance or security; "his only recourse was the police"; "took refuge in lying"
	7.	shadow - a dominating and pervasive presence; "he received little recognition working in the shadow of his father" presence - the state of being present; current existence; "he tested for the presence of radon"
	8.	shadow - a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements shadower, tail follower - someone who travels behind or pursues another spy - a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people; "my spies tell me that you had a good time last night"
	9.	shadow - an inseparable companion; "the poor child was his mother's shadow" follower - someone who travels behind or pursues another
Verb	1.	shadow - follow, usually without the person's knowledge; "The police are shadowing her" follow - to travel behind, go after, come after; "The ducklings followed their mother around the pond"; "Please follow the guide through the museum"
	2.	shadow - cast a shadow over shade, shade off darken - make dark or darker; "darken a room"
	3.	shadow - make appear small by comparison; "This year's debt dwarfs that of last year" dwarf, overshadow overtop, overlook, command, dominate - look down on; "The villa dominates the town"