tenebra

darkness

noun TEH-neh-brah Rare

Origin: Latin tenebrae (darkness, shadows).

Also means

gloom

Usage Note

Tenebra is almost always used in the plural — le tenebre — to mean deep darkness or shadowy gloom, both literal and figurative (le tenebre dell'ignoranza = 'the darkness of ignorance'). The singular tenebra is literary and rare. It is a more poetic word than buio (everyday 'dark').

Examples

"Le tenebre della notte avvolgevano la foresta."

Natural Translation

The darkness of night enveloped the forest.

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