Umbrage sb.

Also 7–9 ombrage. [a. OF. umbrage, ombrage (F. ombrage), = Pr. umbratge:—L. umbrāticum, -icus, f. umbra shadow.]

  † 1.  Shade, shadow. Obs.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 22310. The party of my vysage Whiche is clowded with vmbrage, Off cleernesse scholde haue no reporte.

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, XIII. Prol. 40. All the bewtie of the fructuus feyld Was wyth the erthis vmbrage clene ourheild.

1544.  Betham, Precepts War, I. cci. I vij b. The lyghte, and also … the false vmbrage whych the Moone doth shewe fourthe.

1616.  Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, II. (S.T.S.), I. 65. Deare amber Lockes gaue Vmbrage to her Face.

1654.  trans. Scudery’s Curia Pol., 129. If we be worsted in our nocturnall and more secret attempts, the darknesse will give an umbrage, and obscure our shame.

1655.  F. G., trans. Mlle. De Scudery’s Artamenes, IV. II. 83. The Sun setting that Evening without any cloudy umbrage, it might almost be said that the Sun-beams did guild the whole Countrey.

1687.  Norris, Coll. Misc., Ode to Darkness, v. The Blest above do thy sweet umbrage prize. When Cloy’d with light, they veil their eyes.

  b.  transf. and fig. (Very common in the 17th c.)

  α.  c. 1642.  Observ. his Majesty’s late Answ. & Expresses, 18. To look into termes a little more narrower, and dispell umbrages.

1663.  Aron-bimnucha, 30. Those Clouds and Umbrages that did eclipse and darken the glory of the Gospel.

1684.  Howe, Redeemer’s Tears, Wks. 1862, II. 269. A mind led … to transmit through a dark umbrage some glimmerings only of that excellent majesty which his Sonship … entitled him to.

1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 322. Great Mysterys,… so wrap’d in Clouds, or hid in Umbrages,… that they may seem to have been left as Trials of our Industry.

1727.  A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxiii. 279. [To] live … under the Badge and Umbrage of Ignominy and Shame.

a. 1763.  Shenstone, Progr. Taste, II. 102. And o’er her charms with caution shown, Be still a graceful umbrage thrown.

  β.  1660.  Milton, Free Commw., 448. Kingship, though looking big, yet indeed most pusillanimous,… startl’d at every Ombrage.

1669.  Temple, Lett. (1701), II. 65. To suspect that it was Artificial, and only intended to give an Ombrage or false Light to the Court of Sueden.

  2.  spec. Shade or shadow cast by trees or the like.

  α.  1540–1.  Elyot, Image Gov. xxi. (1544), 38 b. The sayd trees gaue a commodyous and plesant vmbrage. Ibid., xxii. 42. Which trees did cast ouer the walles a pleasant vmbrage or shadowe.

1664.  Evelyn, Sylva, vi. 24. [Ash-trees are] not to be planted for Umbrage, or Ornament; especially neer the Garden.

1665.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 115. The boughs … so circle the bole or trunk that it resembles an arch’d circumference affording umbrage and refreshment to some hundred men.

1675.  Evelyn, Terra (1676), 94. All shade is not unpropitious, where the Soil and Climate are benign, as well as that which casts the umbrage.

1757.  Dyer, Fleece, I. 399. Accustom’d to the barriers of the rick, Or some warm umbrage.

1849.  C. Brontë, Shirley, xiii. Often … she would spend a sunny afternoon in lying stirless on the turf, at the foot of some tree of friendly umbrage.

1865.  A. Raleigh, in Rec. Life, xi. (1881), 138. We had crept up slowly through the leafy woods, and all at once we emerged from the umbrage and stood upon the hill-top.

1888.  R. Buchanan, City of Dream, VIII. 171. The steed sprang on across the golden glade and plunged into the umbrage suddenly.

  β.  1604.  R. Cawdrey, Table Alph., Ombrage, shade, harbor, or bower to rest vnder.

1866.  J. B. Rose, trans. Ovid’s Met., I. 447. On sounding pinions Cupid sped his flight To the deep ombrage of Parnassus’ height.

  b.  Const. of, or with possessives.

1596.  R. L[inche], Diella (1877), 22. Where vnder vmbrage of some aged Tree, With lute in hand I sit.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 1087. In some glade Obscur’d, where highest Woods impenetrable To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir umbrage broad.

1677.  Plot, Oxfordsh., 159. Under the umbrage of which Tree … no less than 324 horses, or 4374 men, may sufficiently be shelter’d.

1708.  J. Philips, Cyder, I. 141. They run To Grots, and Caves, and the cool Umbrage seek of woven Arborets.

1772.  S. Whyte, Poems (1795), 186. In the brown umbrage of the wood, If lonely you retire.

1793.  Minstrel, II. 109. The heat increasing, the deep umbrage of the forest invited her into its closest paths.

1830.  J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 118. Branches … spreading their umbrage to the circumference of two hundred and seven feet.

1875.  Miss Braddon, Strange World, i. Two figures are seated … beneath the umbrage of an ancient thorn.

  c.  The foliage of trees, etc., affording shade.

1657.  Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., Pref. b ij. Here you may view … the pleasant Umbrages sporting with Zephyrus-Nectar-Blooms.

1659.  Hammond, On Ps. cxxviii. 3. Olive-plants … were usually planted (as in arbours) to shade the table, entertainments being made without doors, in gardens, under that umbrage.

1727–46.  Thomson, Summer, 626. Beside the dewy border let me sit,… There in that hollow’d rock, grotesque and wild,… and over head By flowering umbrage shaded.

1767.  Jago, Edge-hill, I. 357, in Poems (1784), 26.

1789.  E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. (1791), 207. Delighted Thames through Tropic umbrage glides, And flowers antarctic, bending o’er his tides.

1811.  Shelley, St. Irvyne, xi. The tall ash and oak, in mingled umbrage, sighed far above their heads.

1833.  Lytton, Godolphin, xv. Then abruptly they rose, overspread with thick and tangled umbrage, several feet above the level of the river.

1885.  Buchanan, Annan Water, ix. In one corner was an arbour almost buried in umbrage.

  transf.  1739.  R. Bull, trans. Dedekindus’ Grobianus, 222. Mustachio’s, far beyond the vulgar Size; O’er all thy Mouth their hairy Umbrage spread.

1828.  Wordsw., Triad, 188. Her brow hath opened on me—see it there, Brightening the umbrage of her hair.

  fig.  1822.  De Quincey, Confess., II. 81. The calamities of my noviciate in London … shot up and flourished afresh, and grow into a noxious umbrage that has overshadowed and darkened my latter years.

1871.  Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), I. xviii. 462. The light of law was for a time obscured by the thick umbrage of novel facts.

  3.  A shadowy appearance or indication, a semblance, outline, or faint representation, a glimmering or trace, of something. Now rare. (Common in 17th c.)

  α.  1604.  Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 125 (Q. 2). His semblable is his mirrour, & who els would trace him, his vmbrage, nothing more.

1644.  Bulwer, Chirol., 143. The arme shadowes out the second Person in the Trinity…. The fingers give an umbrage of the Holy Spirit.

1686.  Plot, Staffordsh., 417. There yet remains some umbrage of a Dean and Prebends here to this very day.

1756.  in Palatine Note-book (1881), I. 118/2. His whole Life … may be look’d upon as an Umbrage of Troubles and Perplexities among vexatious Neighbours.

1856.  Faber, Creator & Creature, II. i. (1886), 110. Joys angelical … are all but a manifold umbrage of the one joy of God.

  β.  1640.  Howell, Dodona’s Grove, 30. It will breed scruples and ombrages of doubts in her confederats. Ibid. (1652), Giraffi’s Rev. Naples, II. 57. The people had shrewd ombrages of fear that he came to no good purpose.

  † b.  Without const.: An appearance or semblance. Obs.

1639.  Fuller, Holy War, V. xxv. 272. Some of them [sc. essays] being umbrages and State-representations rather than realities.

1649.  Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. viii. 78. A penitent is not taken with umbrages and appearances, nor quits a reall good for an imaginary.

1678.  Marvell, Growth Popery, Wks. 1875, IV. 395. It looks and gives an umbrage as if what he was to do was by your leave.

1680.  De Britaine, Hum. Prud., ii. 5. But Wise-men cannot be content to be abused with Umbrages, nor is the World any longer to be entertained with Dark Lanthorns.

  † c.  In emphatic or intensive use, with all, any, even, the least, etc. Obs.

  α.  1649.  Fuller, Just Man’s Funeral, 10. The very umbrage of Religion hath a sovereign virtue in it.

1668.  Earl Orrery, in St. Lett. (1743), II. 340. To avoid even the umbrages of suspicion.

1675.  V. Alsop, Anti-Sozzo, 556. Our Author,… without any umbrage of a pretence from the Text,… has laid them in saltire.

1703.  Bp. T. Wilson, in Keble, Life, v. (1863), 192. That so all umbrage of arbitrary government may be removed.

a. 1734.  North, Examen, II. v. § 139 (1740), 402. Let any one see in that extended Sum of the Evidence … if there be the least Umbrage of a Reflection upon this Accident.

1737.  [S. Berington], Mem. G. de Lucca (1738), 35. To take off all Umbrage of Jealousy, I give you leave to sell him to some honourable Person for a Slave.

  β.  c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 75. They parted for that time without the least ombrage of discontent. Ibid. (1650), Giraffi’s Rev. Naples, I. 17. Hereupon the Vice-Roy went unto them to take off all ombrages of distrust.

1692.  Beverley, Conciliatory Disc., 19. Thus are the Secrets of all Hearts, judged according to the Apostles Gospel…. Some Ombrage of which Heathens have.

  † d.  A figure or type. Obs.

1657.  W. Morice, Coena quasi Κοινὴ, xvi. 297. Sometime they think hereticks set forth under the umbrage of Tares.

  † 4.  A feeling of suspicion or doubt. Obs.

  α.  1624.  Bacon, Consid. War with Spain (1629), 8. I say iust feare,… not out of vmbrages, light iealousnesse, apprehensions a farre off, but out of cleare foresight of imminent danger.

1639.  Fuller, Holy War, I. ix. (1840), 15. Though umbrages and light jealousies … be too narrow to build a fair quarrel on.

1656.  Heylin, Extraneus Vapulans, 63. He took some time to consider of it,… for removing of all such umbrages and misapprehensions, as otherwise that interparlance might have occasioned.

  β.  1604.  Bacon, Apol., 27. And therefore good my Lord carie it so, as you take away by all meanes all ombrages and distasts from the Queene.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett., VI. i. (1650), 180. Ther were som ombrages, and not only so, but open and actuall differences.

  † b.  A suspicion, hint, inkling, or slight idea, of a matter. Obs.

1654–66.  Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 800. They neuer had the least umbrage of the Truth.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. 310. We … found no Canoas, or People, that might give us any umbrage of a City; or place of Trade near at hand.

a. 1734.  North, Examen, I. iii. § 59 (1740), 160. Nor is it less remarkable that such Preparations of Fleets, Transports, Armies,… were to be dispatched … and no Neighbour Nation jealous, nor England (so near) haue any Intelligence or Umbrage of it.

  † c.  A reason or ground for suspicion, or for some opinion. Obs.

1664.  Jer. Taylor, Dissuas. Popery, I. x. 70. S. Peter did not carry himself so as to give the least overture or umbrage to make any one suspect he had any such preheminence.

1673.  Lady’s Call., II. ii. § 3. Therefore they must be nicely careful to give their husbands no color, no least umbrage for it [sc. jealousy].

1704.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4054/1. Every Man … did his Duty, without the least Umbrage for Censure or Reflection.

1737.  L. Clarke, Hist. Bible (1740), II. 288. But there is not the least umbrage for such a conjecture to be found in the scripture.

1760–72.  trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (1807), I. 6. All umbrage would be thus removed from persons who might not be sufficiently acquainted with the nature of their design.

  † 5.  Shelter, protection, screen. Obs.

1607.  Day, Trav. Eng. Bro., Ded. (1881), 3. Wee our selues should haue a safe harbor and vmbrage for our well willing yet weake labours.

1658.  R. Franck, North. Mem., Ded. (1694), p. iv. In this Dilemma I left the University to seek Umbrage in the City of London.

1698.  J. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 98. Humble Suiters for the Umbrage of any of Quality, to skreen them from this Violence.

1730.  T. Gent, Hist. York, Pref. p. iii. So that it flies to the Umbrage of the courteous Reader, to be favourable in its Reception.

1740.  S. Richardson, in Corr. (1801), I. p. lxxvi. I therefore … struck a bold stroke,… having the umbrage of the Editor’s character to screen myself behind.

  † b.  In the phr. under the umbrage of. Obs.

The material sense in quot. 1741 is unusual.

1677.  W. Hubbard, Narrative, Pref. The Historicall discourse ensuing might pass into publick view under the umbrage of your Protection.

1683.  W. Rogers, Scourge for G. Whitehead, 10. Whitehead, now sinking in his Reputation,… seems to shelter himself under the Umbrage of W. P.

1709.  Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), III. 207. A Prince … is still answerable for all the Evil he suffers others to commit under the sacred Umbrage of his Name.

1741.  A. Hill, in Richardson’s Corr. (1804), I. 71. Little Harry Campbell … had been listening all this while upon the floor, under the umbrage of a pair of out-strutting hoops.

1776.  P. Oliver, in T. Hutchinson’s Diary, etc. (1886), II. 109. I entered the House of Lords under the umbrage of Lord Polworth.

  † 6.  A pretext or pretense; a color or false show. Obs.

1634.  Bp. Hall, Contempl. N. T., Christ before Pilate. It is al the care of hypocrites to seek umbrages, and pretences for their hatefull purposes.

1662.  Hickeringill, Apol. Distressed Innoc., Wks. 1716, I. 272. Veiling the Murder with the Umbrage of Devotion and Justice.

a. 1693.  Ld. Delamer, Wks. (1694), 107. Truth will appear from under all the false glosses and umbrages that men may draw over it.

1706.  Phil. Trans., XXV. 2416. So convincing an Experiment as this, which … leaves no manner of umbrage for any other Hypothesis to take place in it.

  † b.  In the phr. under the umbrage of. Obs.

  Slight differences of usage are represented in the different groups of quotations.

  (a)  1674.  Case of Bankers & Creditors, Pref. 3. This grievance of ours hath been represented to his Majesty under the pretence and umbrages of Royal Prerogative.

1681.  Hickeringill, Sin Man-catching, Wks. 1716, I. 174. [Villains] that commit the greatest Rapacities … under the umbrage, pretence and colour of Law and Justice.

1696.  C. Leslie, Snake in Grass (1697), 90. Otherwise, they may commit Theft, Sacrilege, and all other Immoralities under this Umbrage.

1727.  A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. xlvii. 176. To make him accuse rich Men,… that he might seize their Estates under the Umbrage of Justice and Law.

1735.  Bolingbroke, On Parties (ed. 2), viii. 87. To form a Party, and maintain a Struggle for personal Power, under the Pretence and Umbrage of Principle.

  (b)  1679.  J. Smith, Narr. Popish Plot, 30. Under the Umbrage of Repairing a College, they were providing for the Ruine of a Kingdom.

  (c)  1709.  Sacheverell, Serm., 5 Nov., 9. Should we cover such a False Apostle under the Sacred Umbrage of a True Church-Man?

1720.  Gordon & Trenchard, Independ. Whig (1728), 284. Under the Colour and Umbrage of Significant and decent Ceremonies, the most ridiculous and immodest Usages have been introduced.

1723.  Dk. Wharton, True Briton, I. 234. Under the Umbrage of Adorers, [they] make themselves Masters.

  † 7.  To be, or to stand, in (…) umbrage, to be in disfavor. Obs.

a. 1635.  Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 31. On the fall of the Duke he stood some yeers in umbrage, and without imployment.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. § 102. Being suspected at least a Favourer of the Papists,… by which he was in great umbrage with the People.

a. 1649.  Drumm. of Hawth., Hist. Jas. V., Wks. (1711), 110. He knew Sir James stood in some umbrage with the King.

  8.  Displeasure, annoyance, offense, resentment: a. In the phr. to give (…) umbrage (to a person or persons).

1620.  Brent, trans. Sarpi’s Hist. Council Trent, I. 28. He … therefore besought them to take away all those words that might give him any Vmbrage.

1668.  Dryden, Evening’s Love, IV. It will not be convenient to give him any umbrage, by seeing me with another person.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 5 May, 1686. Which dispensation … gave umbrage (as well it might) to every good Protestant.

1740.  Somerville, Hobbinol, I. 242. Be thou, my Muse! No leaky Blab, nor painful Umbrage give To wealthy Squire.

1771.  J. Fletcher, Checks, Wks. 1795, II. 8. How often do men sneakingly forsake their friends, for fear of giving umbrage to a superior party or interest.

1796.  Washington, Lett., Writ. 1892, XIII. 263. Unless my pacific disposition was displeasing, nothing else could have given umbrage by the most rigid construction of the letter.

1842.  H. Rogers, Ess. (1874), I. i. 5. The sermon, when printed, gave great umbrage to the parliamentary party.

1869.  Rawlinson, Anc. Hist., 314. Both Antiochus and Seleucus … abstained from any proceedings that could give umbrage to their new subjects.

  b.  In the phr. to take (…) umbrage (at; also without const. or with clause).

  (a)  1680.  Fountainhall, Chronol. Notes (1822), 5. The Bishop … took umbrage at his freedom of speech in the pulpit anent the government.

1683.  Temple, Mem., Wks. 1720, I. 439. The Allies had taken great Umbrage at my Journey to the Hague.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 300. If any opposition should be offered them in the country, or any umbrage taken at their design.

1759.  Robertson, Hist. Scot., VIII. Wks. 1813, II. 49. James himself, though he prudently concealed it, took great umbrage at her behaviour.

1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, X. xiv. However, as to his having called me a blockhead, it’s not what I take umbrage at.

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist., v. (1876), I. 284. We find mention of any umbrage being taken at certain strains of prerogatives.

1862.  Kingsley, A. Locke, Pref. p. v. Many of them … have taken umbrage at certain scenes of Cambridge life drawn in this book.

1883.  Sir T. Martin, Ld. Lyndhurst, ix. 231. A less kindly-tempered man … would have taken umbrage at the tone of this letter.

  (b)  1723.  Present State of Russia, I. 197. The subjects of the Can of Schirvan began to take Umbrage.

1748.  Smollett, R. Random, xi. Fearing the captain and his lady would take umbrage, and leave his carriage.

1813.  Scott, Rokeby, III. xxi. Our stout Knight … Took umbrage that a friend so near Refused to share his chase and cheer.

1841.  D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 594. Many close at hand took umbrage lest they themselves were being supplanted.

  c.  In other constructions.

1724.  R. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), III. 140. They all have your case very much at heart, and all the umbrage is over.

1768.  H. Walpole, Hist. Doubts, 23. Whether the steps taken by the queen gave them new cause of umbrage.

1856.  Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., xx. A very good-natured laugh from the others showed how little umbrage the frank avowal excited.