Word of the Day - 10/08/25
umbrage
/'əmbrɪdʒ/(n.): a feeling of anger caused by being offended
He took great umbrage at the suggestion that he was not qualified for the position.
Word Origin
The word 'umbrage' originates from the Latin word 'umbra', meaning 'shade' or 'shadow'. It passed into English via Old French 'ombrage'. Originally, it referred to actual shade, like that cast by trees. Over time, its meaning evolved to denote a feeling of being overshadowed or slighted, leading to its current sense of offense or annoyance. The core component of the word is 'umbra' (shade/shadow).
Words with a similar Latin root ('umbra') include 'umbrella' (literally 'little shade'), 'somber' (from Old French 'sombre', ultimately from Latin 'sub umbra', meaning 'under the shade'), and 'penumbra' (from Latin 'paene' meaning 'almost' and 'umbra', referring to the partial shadow in an eclipse).