subfusc
/ˈsʌbfʌsk
/ /sʌbˈfʌsk /adjective literary
Dull; gloomy: the light was subfusc and aqueous...
- But while Bill Alexander's new production has a fine, sombre, subfusc dignity, there were times when I guiltily hungered for a little more playful malevolence.
- Houses hunched like weary giants, wrapped in subfusc cloaks of night.
- One remembers how audibly and visibly subfusc was the almost apologetic chorus in their otherwise excellent opera, Don Carlo.
noun [mass noun] British
The dark formal clothing worn for examinations and formal occasions at some universities.Well I guess I ought to get out of my subfusc, wipe the smudged makeup off my face and find some food....
- Our readers should know he cut a fine figure in subfusc on his way to his viva.
- One history finalist said, ‘We have to put up with University's traditions, wearing subfusc and the like, but they're not prepared to put up with ours.’
Origin
Early 18th century: from Latin subfuscus, from sub- 'somewhat' + fuscus 'dark brown'.
- photolithography
- photolitho offset
- photolithotroph
- photolithotrophic
- photolithotrophy
- photology
- photoluminescence
- photoluminescent
- photolyase
- photolyse
- photolysis
- photolytic
- photolytically
- photom.
- photomacrograph
- photomacrography
- photo magazine
- photomagnetic
- photomagnetism
- photomagnetoelectric
- photomap
- photo-mapper
- photo-mapping
- photomask
- Photomat