Jacob Grant
Artifact 7: OED Assignment
FYW: Writing Seminar
Fall 2013
The Painful OED Research
As the assignment for Artifact 7, the “OED” assignment, was handed to me, I started to
think about which word I should choose because several words interested me, I started to put
down the words I might use for this assignment, and then I suddenly thought of a word that I
would really like to learn about and use for my project. It was the word “shadow.” It is all thanks
to my fascination with shadows. The fascination with shadows that I have is because of events in
my past which have sparked an interest in shadows.
The first source that I looked into that was recommended by my teacher was the Oxford
English Dictionary (the OED), and the reason for that is it is supposed to be the best “definitive
record” of the English language. In Wallace Library at Rochester Institute of Technology
campus, I looked for Oxford English Dictionary and found it. Then I looked up online for it and
decided to use online version because it is easier utilize technology (computer and internet) to
help me with the “OED” research faster and effectively.
At first, I struggled a bit to find where the word came from. However, I believe that
according to OED, the word comes from the Old English “scead(u)we.” Once I looked up the
online version of OED, I found many definitions and I was shocked. So, I decided to use few
definitions. I picked seven definitions in the total to use for my project: The first means “a tract
of partial darkness produced by a body intercepting the direct rays of the sun or other luminary”
(OED 2013). There is another definition that is same as this definition however words is
different, it goes like this “The dark figure which body ‘casts’ or ‘throws’ upon a surface by
intercepting the direct rays of the sun or other luminary.” These two definitions are the first ones
because they are same and just a different way to define a concept. Also, it can be used as action
(verb) such as this “To intercept or dim the light of (the sun or other luminary).” This second
definition is similar to first, relating to the places where light cannot reach, hence shadow. The
third definition is somewhat different; it means “The darker part of a picture, etc. representing
the less illuminated portions of the original.” It seems that this is the terms for painting and
drawing which is the most common use of shadow. From on now, all definitions will differ, not
relating to other definitions expect for they relates to same single word, obviously, shadow. The
fourth definition was that I thought that could be true, because it means “An imitation, copy; a
counterpart.” I think that it shows clearly that we possibly have counterparts of ourselves (our
shadows). The fifth definition is very interesting out of all definitions and the meaning is “the
dark aspect of personality formed by those fears and unpleasant emotions which being rejected
by the self or person of which an individual is conscious, exist in personal unconscious.” This
definition is related to psychology which is interesting because I never knew that it could be that
way. Another interesting definition and sixth one means “Designating members of an opposition
party nominated as counterparts of member of the government in power holding cabinet or other
offices.” This is interesting because it’s a “shadow government” and it might means secret? It is
something to find out about! The seventh and the last definition are different, because it’s a verb
while definitions above consist of nouns. The last definition means “To follow (a person) like a
shadow.”
I found myself more fascinated with many definitions of the shadow, so I started to look
around on the online etymology dictionary. I found some interesting information but I felt that it
would not help me with my research much, or help me create the artifact for the assignment.
However, I found one thing that helped me; the word silhouette. I found some interesting
information about silhouette and what I found that the word is “in reference to Etienne de
Silhouette (1709-1767), French minister of finance in 1759.” I was surprised that the word
“silhouette” came from a French person. And here’s another interesting fact about silhouette is
that “it was an inexpensive way of making a likeness of someone.” So, I visualized that it was
inexpensive piece of an art.” Also, I found a definition for silhouette and it defines as “a picture
of something showing it as a dark shape on a light background” (Merriam-Webster). Anyways,
since online etymology dictionary wasn’t much of help and I was sure that there was more
interesting facts of my word “shadow.”
Before I found facts or any information about shadows, I decided to Google more
definitions although the OED had lot of definitions. I was curious what there could be different
definition that weren’t in the OED. I used two different online dictionaries, Merriam-Webster (as
noted above definition for silhouette) and Collins Dictionary. Both dictionaries had lot of similar
definitions, but there is some definition that is not in either of them. Now, I will show some of
definitions such as “shelter from danger or observation” (Merriam-Webster), “a shaded area, as
in a picture of or X-ray” (Collins Dictionary), or “the growing darkness after sunset.” There are
more but they should be enough as examples although I already have decided on using some of
definitions from OED for my project. Then I started pondering about more research on certain
definitions.
I decided to try Google search and see how much interesting information there is related
to shadow. I did not see much of what I needed for my research because there were random
results. Then I tried to narrowing it down, looking back on the OED definitions, I typed in
“shadow (psychology).” There were few good results. Unfortunately, it was a Wikipedia which
isn’t always a reliable source of information since someone can change or edit the contents of
information. However I have decided to use it a bit because of it has some interesting
information. For example, in the OED dictionary where I stated the fifth definition where it
defines almost like “dark side” and it “may refer to (1) the entirety of the unconscious, i.e.,
everything of which a person is fully conscious, or (2) an unconscious aspect of the personality
which the conscious ego does not identify in itself” (Wikipedia). When I saw this, and I thought
of the book called The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Louis
Stevenson immediately. At that time, I thought that book was perfect example for fifth
definition. Moving on, I tried looked more results, and found nothing that will help me further
the research. I changed search to shadow government, as I thought it might help me a bit more.
Sadly again, there are random results and I had to look into Wikipedia once more. This time it is
more related to conspiracy related to government or rather shadow government. I found
information that almost similar to the sixth definition. What it says, “…besides its party political
meaning, also refers to what is sometimes called ‘the secret government’ or the ‘invisible
government’…” and other interesting information that is “One definition of a shadow
government is a ‘secret government within the government’. This secret government is the ‘real’
government that controls the legitimate and visible government’s agenda.” After finding those
information, I thought that I might could find a bit more.
Scholar Google search was next thing that I tried, however I could not find any good
information. But, I did found some interesting books while scrolling for appropriate information
for my project. I ended up found nothing but list of books, which I do not have time to read all,
and citations. I was struggling, and later I decided that what I found so far pretty much satisfied
for the project that I have in my mind. This concludes my very painstaking research process (not
really). However, during process of my research, I have found some interest in certain area. That
interest is somewhat relates to this research process and yet it has nothing to do with assignment
at all, just my curiosity. I will say this as my conclusion; the word “shadow” sure has many
meanings or rather in other words, definitions.