Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Shade
Shade
(shād)
, Noun.
1.
Comparative obscurity owing to interception or interruption of the rays of light; partial darkness caused by the intervention of something between the space contemplated and the source of light.
☞ Shade differs from shadow as it implies no particular form or definite limit; whereas a shadow represents in form the object which intercepts the light. When we speak of the shade of a tree, we have no reference to its form; but when we speak of measuring a pyramid or other object by its shadow, we have reference to its form and extent.
2.
Darkness; obscurity; – often in the plural.
The
shades
of night were falling fast. Longfellow.
3.
An obscure place; a spot not exposed to light; hence, a secluded retreat.
Let us seek out some desolate
Weep our sad bosoms empty.
shade
, and thereWeep our sad bosoms empty.
Shakespeare
4.
That which intercepts, or shelters from, light or the direct rays of the sun; hence, also, that which protects from heat or currents of air; a screen; protection; shelter; cover;
as, a lamp
. shade
The Lord is thy
shade
upon thy right hand. Ps. cxxi. 5.
Sleep under a fresh tree’s
shade
. Shakespeare
Let the arched knife well sharpened now assail the spreading
shades
of vegetables. J. Philips.
5.
Shadow.
[Poetic.]
Envy will merit, as its
shade
, pursue. Pope.
6.
The soul after its separation from the body; – so called because the ancients it to be perceptible to the sight, though not to the touch; a spirit; a ghost;
as, the
. shades
of departed heroesSwift as thought the flitting
Thro' air his momentary journey made.
shade
Thro' air his momentary journey made.
Dryden.
7.
(Painting, Drawing, etc.)
The darker portion of a picture; a less illuminated part. See Def. 1, above.
8.
Degree or variation of color, as darker or lighter, stronger or paler;
as, a delicate
. shade
of pinkWhite, red, yellow, blue, with their several degrees, or
shades
and mixtures, as green only in by the eyes. Locke.
9.
A minute difference or variation, as of thought, belief, expression, etc.; also, the quality or degree of anything which is distinguished from others similar by slight differences;
as, the
. shades
of meaning in synonymsNew
shades
and combinations of thought. De Quincey.
Every
shade
of religious and political opinion has its own headquarters. Macaulay.
The Shades
, the Nether World; the supposed abode of souls after leaving the body.
Shade
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Shaded
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Shading
.] 1.
To shelter or screen by intercepting the rays of light; to keep off illumination from.
Milton.
I went to crop the sylvan scenes,
And
And
shade
our altars with their leafy greens. Dryden.
2.
To shelter; to cover from injury; to protect; to screen; to hide;
as, to
. shade
one's eyesEre in our own house I do
shade
my head. Shakespeare
3.
To obscure; to dim the brightness of.
Thou
The full blaze of thy beams.
shad'st
The full blaze of thy beams.
Milton.
4.
To pain in obscure colors; to darken.
5.
To mark with gradations of light or color.
6.
To present a shadow or image of; to shadow forth; to represent.
[Obs.]
[The goddess] in her person cunningly did
That part of Justice which is Equity.
shade
That part of Justice which is Equity.
Spenser.
Webster 1828 Edition
Shade
SHADE
,Noun.
1. Literally, the interception, cutting of or interruption of the rays of light; hence, the obscurity which is caused by such interception. Shad differs from shadow, as it implies no particular form or definite limit. whereas a shadow represents in form the object which intercepts the light. Hence when we say, let us resort to the shade of a tree, we have no reference to its form; but when we speak of measuring a pyramid or other object by its shadow, we have reference to its extent.
2. Darkness; obscurity; as the shades of night.
3. An obscure place, properly in a grove or close wood, which precludes the sun's rays; an hence, a secluded retreat.
Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there
Weep our sad bosoms empty. Shak.
4. A screen; something that intercepts light or heat.
5. Protection; shelter. [See Shadow.]
6. In painting, the dark part of the picture.
7. Degree or gradation of light.
White, red, yellow, blue, with their several degrees, or shades and mixtures, as green, come only in by the eyes. Locke.
8. A shadow. [See Shadow.]
Envy will merit, as its shade, pursue. Pope. [This is allowable in poetry.]
9. The soul, after its separation from the body; so called because the ancients supposed it to be perceptible to the sight, not to the touch; a spirit; aghost; as the shades of departed heroes.
Swift as thought, the flitting shade- Dryden.
SHADE
,Verb.
T.
1. To shelter or screen from light by intercepting its rays; and when applied to the rays of the sun, it segnifies to shelter from light and heat; as, a large tree shades the plants under its branches; shaded vegetables rarely come to perfection.
I went to the sylvan scenes,
And shade our altars with their leafy greens. Dryden.