Obscure
Obscure (ob*skūr") , adjective
[Latin obscurus, orig., covered; ob- (see Ob-) + a root probably meaning, to cover; compare Latin scutum shield, Sanskrit sku to cover: compare French obscur. Compare Sky.]
1.
Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.
His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
2.
Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from observation; unnoticed.
The obscure bird
Clamored the livelong night.
The obscure corners of the earth.
3.
Not noticeable; humble; mean.
O base and obscure vulgar.
An obscure person.
4.
Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or incomprehensible; as, an obscure passage or inscription.
5.
Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects.
Collocations (1)
Obscure rays (Optics) , those rays which are not luminous or visible, and which in the spectrum are beyond the limits of the visible portion.
Obscure (ob*skūrd") , transitive verb
[Latin obscurare, from obscurus: compare Old French obscurer. See Obscure, a.]
To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious.
They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with obscured lights.
Why, 't is an office of discovery, love,
And I should be obscured.
There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of learned men as this.
And seest not sin obscures thy godlike frame?
Obscure (ob*skūr") , intransitive verb
To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark. [Obsolete]
How! There's bad news.
I must obscure, and hear it.
Obscure , noun
Obscurity. [Obsolete] — Milton