obscure

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Antonyms 1.3.4 Related terms 1.3.5 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 External links 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Adjective 2.3 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From French obscur < Latin obscūrus (“‘dark, dusky, indistinct’”), possibly < ob (“‘over’”) + -scurus (“‘covered’”) < root scu (“‘cover’”), seen also in scutum (“‘a shield’”); see scutum, sky.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /əbˈskjʊɚ/, SAMPA: /@b"skjU@/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

obscure (comparative more obscure, superlative most obscure)

1. Dark, faint or indistinct.
   • "I found myself in an obscure wood . ." Dante, Inferno,1,1-2
2. Hidden, out of sight or inconspicuous,
3. Difficult to understand.

[edit] Usage notes

• The comparative obscurer and superlative obscurest, though formed by valid rules for English, are less common than more obscure and most obscure.

[edit] Synonyms

• enigmatic
• mysterious
• esoteric

[edit] Antonyms

• clear

[edit] Related terms

• obscurity
• obscuration

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to obscure (third-person singular simple present obscures, present participle obscuring, simple past and past participle obscured)

1. (transitive) To darken, make faint etc.
2. (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

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• obscure in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• obscure in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

---

[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɔpskyr/

[edit] Adjective

obscure

1. feminine of obscur

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: bceorsu
• courbes