overshadow

1 exceed in importance; outweigh; "This problem overshadows our lives right now" [syn: eclipse]

2 make appear small by comparison; "This year's debt dwarves that of last year" [syn: shadow, dwarf]

3 cast a shadow upon; "The tall tree overshadowed the house"; "The tragedy overshadowed the couple's happiness"

English

Etymology

etyl ang ofersceadwian, from ofer- + sceadwian (translating obumbro, from ob + umbro). Compare Dutch overshaduwen, German überschatten.

Pronunciation

• a RP /ˌəʊ.vəˈʃæd.əʊ/
• a US /ˌoʊ.vɚˈʃæd.oʊ/
• Rhymes with: -ædəʊ

Verb

1. To obscure something by casting a shadow.
2. To dominate something and make it seem insignificant.

Translations

adumbrate, becloud, bedarken, bedim, befog, begloom, bemist, bestraddle, bestride, black, black out, blacken, blight, block the light, blot out, brown, cast a shadow, clabber up, clear, cloud, cloud over, cloud up, command, cover, curtain, darken, darken over, dim, dim out, diminish, dominate, draw the curtains, dwarf, eclipse, encloud, encompass with shadow, enmist, excel, extinguish, fake out, fog, gloom, haze, impair, look down upon, mar, minimize, mist, murk, nubilate, obfuscate, obnubilate, obscure, obumbrate, occult, occultate, outshine, outtop, overarch, overcast, overcloud, overlook, oversmoke, overtop, put down, put to shame, rise above, ruin, screen, shade, shadow, show up, shutter, smog, smoke, somber, spoil, surmount, top, tower above, tower over, veil