{ Som″ber, Som″bre } (?; 277), a. [F. sombre; cf. Sp. sombra, shade, prob. from LL. subumbrare to put in the shade; L. sub under + umbra shade. See Umbrage.] 1. Dull; dusky; somewhat dark; gloomy; as, a somber forest; a somber house.
2. Melancholy; sad; grave; depressing; as, a somber person; somber reflections.
The dinner was silent and somber; happily it was also short. Beaconsfield.