To adumbrate means to do what?

To adumbrate means to summarize or outline. The term originates from the Latin word "adumbratus," which means to shadow or to give a faint representation. In a literary or intellectual context, adumbrating involves providing a brief or preliminary indication of a larger idea, concept, or argument without going into extensive detail. This aligns well with the notion of outlining, as it suggests laying out the essential points or main ideas while leaving room for further development or exploration.

For example, in a research paper, an author may adumbrate future research directions by briefly mentioning potential areas of inquiry that will be explored in more depth later. This nuanced representation captures the essence of adumbration as a technique of providing foundational insights without exhaustive elaboration.