obscure Hear it!

obscure definition

ob·scure (əb skyo̵or, äb-)

adjective

  1. lacking light; dim; dark; murky the obscure night
  2. not easily perceived; specif.,
    1. not clear or distinct; faint or undefined an obscure figure or sound
    2. not easily understood; vague; cryptic; ambiguous an obscure explanation
    3. in an inconspicuous position; hidden an obscure village
  3. not well-known; not famous an obscure scientist
  4. Phonet. pronounced as (ə) or (i) because it is not stressed; reduced; neutral: said of a vowel

Etymology: OFr obscur < L obscurus, lit., covered over < ob- (see ob-) + IE *skuro- < base *(s)keu-, to cover, conceal > hide, sky

transitive verb obscured -·scured′, obscuring -·scur′·ing

  1. to make obscure; specif.,
    1. to darken; make dim
    2. to conceal from view; hide
    3. to make less conspicuous; overshadow a success that obscured earlier failures
    4. to make less intelligible; confuse testimony that obscures the issue
  2. Phonet. to make (a vowel) obscure

Etymology: L obscurare < the adj.

noun

Related Forms:

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