[pen.um.bra] n, pl -brae or -bras [NL, fr. L paene almost + umbra shadow--more at umbrage] (1666) 1 a: a space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light b: a shaded region surrounding the dark central portion of a sunspot
2: a surrounding or adjoining region in which something exists in a lesser degree: fringe
3: a body of rights held to be guaranteed by implication in a civil constitution -- pen.um.bral adj