sombre
Translation
dark, dull, gloomy, melancholy
Examples
He wore a sombre suit.
He wore a somber suit.
The mood in the room was sombre.
The mood in the room was somber.
Grammar Patterns
((sombre)) + ((noun)) describing (sth.) as dark or gloomy He wore a sombre suit.
Similar Words
Synonyms: gloomy, dark, dull; Antonyms: bright, cheerful
Etymology
From Old French 'sombre', from Latin 'sub umbra' meaning 'under shadow'. 'sub-' (under) + 'umbra' (shadow).
Memory Tips
Imagine a 'sombrero' hat casting a shadow ('umbra'), creating a dark, serious mood. This is the standard British English spelling; the US spelling is 'somber'.