— somberly , adv. — somberness , n.
/som"beuhr/ , adj.
1. gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted: a somber passageway.
2. dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color: a somber dress.
3. gloomy, depressing, or dismal: a somber mood.
4. extremely serious; grave: a somber expression on his face.
Also, esp. Brit., sombre .
[ 1750-60; sombre, MF, prob. n. deriv. of * sombrer to make shady subumbrare, equiv. to L sub- SUB- + umbrare to cast a shadow, deriv. of umbra shade ]
Syn. 1. dusky, murky, sunless. 3. lugubrious, mournful, doleful, melancholy.
Ant. 1. bright. 3. cheerful.