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