adj. 1. a. Dark; gloomy: a somber room. b. Dull or dark in color: somber hues. 2. a. Melancholy; dismal: a somber mood. b. Serious; grave: a somber spokesperson. [French sombre, from Old French, from *sombrer, to cast a shadow, from Late Latin subumbrāre, from Latin sub umbrā, in shadow : sub, under; see SUB- + umbrā, ablative of umbra, shadow.] somber·ly adv. somber·ness n. |
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