obscure
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From French obscur, from Latin obscūrus (“dark, dusky, indistinct”), possibly, from ob (“over”) + -scurus (“covered”), from root scu (“cover”), seen also in scutum (“a shield”); see scutum, sky.
Pronunciation [edit]
- (UK) IPA: /əbˈskjʊə(ɹ)/, /əbˈskjɔː(ɹ)/, X-SAMPA: /@b"skjU@(r\)/, /@b"skjO:(r\)/
- (US) IPA: /əbˈskjʊɚ/, X-SAMPA: /@b"skjU@'/
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Audio (US) (file)
Adjective [edit]
obscure (comparative obscurer or more obscure, superlative obscurest or most obscure)
- Dark, faint or indistinct.
- "I found myself in an obscure wood . ." Dante, Inferno,1,1-2
- Hidden, out of sight or inconspicuous.
- Difficult to understand.
Usage notes [edit]
- The comparative obscurer and superlative obscurest, though formed by valid rules for English, are less common than more obscure and most obscure.
Synonyms [edit]
Antonyms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
dark, faint or indistinct
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hidden, out of sight or inconspicuous
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difficult to understand
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Verb [edit]
obscure (third-person singular simple present obscures, present participle obscuring, simple past and past participle obscured)
- (transitive) To darken, make faint etc.
- (transitive) To hide, put out of sight etc.
- "I realized that the purpose of writing is to inflate weak ideas, obscure poor reasoning, and inhibit clarity." Bill Watterson, Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat page 62
Translations [edit]
to darken, make faint
to hide, put out of sight
External links [edit]
- obscure in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- obscure in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
French [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
- IPA: /ɔpskyr/
Adjective [edit]
obscure
- feminine form of obscur
Anagrams [edit]
Latin [edit]
Adjective [edit]
obscūre
- vocative masculine singular of obscūrus
