Webster's English Dictionary

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penumbra

pen.um.bra \p*-'n*m-br*\ \-(.)bre-, -.bri-\ \-br*l\ n or pe.num.brae or 
   penumbras [NL, fr. L paene almost + umbra shadow - more at PATIENT, (] 
   plMUMBRAGE 1: a space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between 
   the perfect s hadow on all sides and the full light 2: a shaded region 
   surrounding the dark central portion of a sunspot  3: a surrounding or 
   adjoining region in which something exists in a lesser  degree : FRINGE - 
   pen.um.bral aj