1. 
[syn: prefiguration, foreshadowing, adumbration]
2.  a sketchy or imperfect or faint representation; 
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Adumbration \Ad`um*bra"tion\, n. [L. adumbratio.]
   1. The act of adumbrating, or shadowing forth.
      [1913 Webster]
   2. A faint sketch; an outline; an imperfect portrayal or
      representation of a thing.
      [1913 Webster]
            Elegant adumbrations of sacred truth. --Bp. Horsley.
      [1913 Webster]
   3. (Her.) The shadow or outlines of a figure.
      [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
adumbration
    n 1: the act of providing vague advance indications;
         representing beforehand [syn: prefiguration,
         foreshadowing, adumbration]
    2: a sketchy or imperfect or faint representation