darkling

English

Etymology 1

From dark +‎ -ling.

Noun

darkling (plural darklings)

1. (fantasy) A creature that lives in the dark.

Etymology 3

From Middle English derkelyng, equivalent to dark +‎ -ling.

Adverb

darkling (not comparable)

1. In the dark; in obscurity.
   • (Can we date this quote?), William Shakespeare, King Lear

     So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

   • (Can we date this quote by John Milton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     As the wakeful bird sings darkling.

Etymology

From darkle +‎ -ing.

Noun

darkling (plural darklings)

1. Darkness

Adjective

darkling (not comparable)

1. (poetic) Dark; darkening.
   • 1867, Matthew Arnold, Dover Beach:

     And we are here as on a darkling plain

     Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,

     Where ignorant armies clash by night

2. (figurative) Obscure; taking place unseen, as if in the dark.

Verb

darkling

1. present participle of darkle

References

• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

Anagrams

• draglink