ombre
A group of elegantly dressed people play a game of ombre around a candlelit table.
Definition
- Noun:
- A card game: "ombre" refers to a trick-taking card game that was popular in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. It is typically played by three players with a 40-card pack, and the goal is to win the majority of tricks.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In the 18th century, ombre was a fashionable pastime among the European aristocracy. (The card game was a popular social activity for the upper class.)
- She learned the rules of ombre from an old book on historical games. (She studied the traditional card game's regulations.)
Advanced Usage
- "to play ombre": to engage in the game of ombre.
- The characters in the novel often played ombre by candlelight. (They participated in the card game during evening gatherings.)
Variants and Related Words
Ombre player (n): a person who plays the game of ombre.
- The ombre player carefully calculated his next move. (The person participating in the game thought strategically.)
Ombre pack (n): the specific set of cards used in the game, typically excluding 8s, 9s, and 10s from a standard deck.
- An ombre pack consists of 40 cards. (The deck for the game has fewer cards than a standard 52-card deck.)
Synonyms
- Trick-taking game: a type of card game where players aim to win rounds or "tricks."
- Historical card game: a game from a past era, often with specific rules and cultural significance.
Related Idioms
- "At the ombre table": referring to the setting or context of playing the game.
- They spent the evening at the ombre table, discussing politics. (They gathered around the card table to play and converse.)
Notes
- The word "ombre" is primarily historical and is rarely used in modern English except in literary or historical contexts. It is not to be confused with "ombre" (a gradual shading of color), which is a different word of French origin.