SOMBRENESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sombreness mean? 

• SOMBRENESS (noun)
  The noun SOMBRENESS has 3 senses:

1. a state of partial or total darkness

2. a feeling of melancholy apprehension

3. a manner that is serious and solemn

  Familiarity information: SOMBRENESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SOMBRENESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A state of partial or total darkness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

gloom; somberness; sombreness

Context example:

he struck a match to dispel the gloom

Hypernyms ("sombreness" is a kind of...):

semidarkness (partial darkness)

Derivation:

sombre (lacking brightness or color; dull)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A feeling of melancholy apprehension

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

gloom; gloominess; somberness; sombreness

Hypernyms ("sombreness" is a kind of...):

apprehension; apprehensiveness; dread (fearful expectation or anticipation)

melancholy (a feeling of thoughtful sadness)

Derivation:

sombre (grave or even gloomy in character)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A manner that is serious and solemn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

graveness; gravity; soberness; sobriety; somberness; sombreness

Hypernyms ("sombreness" is a kind of...):

earnestness; serious-mindedness; seriousness; sincerity (the trait of being serious)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sombreness"):

stodginess; stuffiness (dull and pompous gravity)

Derivation:

sombre (grave or even gloomy in character)

 Context examples 

They were eyes that masked the soul with a thousand guises, and that sometimes opened, at rare moments, and allowed it to rush up as though it were about to fare forth nakedly into the world on some wonderful adventure,—eyes that could brood with the hopeless sombreness of leaden skies; that could snap and crackle points of fire like those which sparkle from a whirling sword; that could grow chill as an arctic landscape, and yet again, that could warm and soften and be all a-dance with love-lights, intense and masculine, luring and compelling, which at the same time fascinate and dominate women till they surrender in a gladness of joy and of relief and sacrifice.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)