Penumbra

pəˈnʌmbrə

noun

the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object

The word 'penumbra' comes from Latin, where 'paene' means 'almost' and 'umbra' means 'shade' or 'shadow'. It refers to the area where light and shadow blend, creating a soft transition between the dark shadow (umbra) and full light.

For the eye of the thinker, all historic murderers are to be found there, in that hideous penumbra, on their knees, with a scrap of their winding-sheet for an apron, dismally sponging out their work.

Victor Hugo

Les Misérables

At Stephen’s suggestion, at Bloom’s instigation both, first Stephen, then Bloom, in penumbra urinated, their sides contiguous, their organs of micturition reciprocally rendered invisible by manual circumposition, their gazes, first Bloom’s, then Stephen’s, elevated to the projected luminous and semiluminous shadow.

James Joyce

Ulysses