Definition of overshadow

overshadowverb

lu mờ

/ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊ//ˌəʊvərˈʃædəʊ/

The word "overshadow" originated from the Middle English word "schaden," meaning "shade" or "shadow." The present-day form of the word can be traced back to the 15th century, when it was first used in the sense of "cast a shadow over" or "hinder or prevent the growth or development of." In literature, the term "overshadow" also had a literal meaning related to solar eclipses. During an eclipse, the moon would pass between the sun and Earth, causing a momentary "overshadowing" of the sun's light. Over time, the term "overshadow" took on a more figurative meaning, particularly in religious contexts. It came to represent the idea of a divine or supernatural presence being so overwhelming or powerful that it seems to blot out or obscure everything else. For many Christians, the story of Moses in Exodus is particularly evocative of this concept, as God describes himself as overshadowing Moses with his hand, guiding and protecting him on his journey. In summary, the root word "schaden" meaning "shade" or "shadow" led to the formation of the Old English word "scadan," which eventually evolved into the present-day term "overshadow," expressing both literal and figurative meanings.

Summary
type ngoại động từ
meaningche bóng, che mắt
meaninglàm (ai) lu mờ; làm đen tối ((nghĩa đen) & (nghĩa bóng))
meaning(từ hiếm,nghĩa hiếm) bảo vệ, che chở (ai, khỏi bị tấn công)
namespace

to make somebody/something seem less important, or successful

làm cho ai/cái gì có vẻ ít quan trọng hơn hoặc kém thành công hơn

Example:
  • He had always been overshadowed by his elder sister.

    Anh luôn bị lu mờ bởi chị gái mình.

  • Domestic policy was soon overshadowed by political unrest abroad.

    Chính sách trong nước sớm bị lu mờ bởi tình trạng bất ổn chính trị ở nước ngoài.

to make an event less pleasant than it should be

để làm cho một sự kiện ít thú vị hơn nó nên được

Example:
  • News of the accident overshadowed the day's events.

    Tin tức về vụ tai nạn đã làm lu mờ các sự kiện trong ngày.

Related words and phrases

to throw a shadow over something

phủ bóng lên cái gì đó

Example:
  • The garden is overshadowed by tall trees.

    Khu vườn bị che khuất bởi những cây cao.