obscure

—obscuredly /euhb skyoor"id lee/, obscurely, adv. —obscureness, n.

/euhb skyoor"/, adj., obscurer, obscurest, v., obscured, obscuring, n.

adj.

1. (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.

2. not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive: obscure motivations.

3. (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.

4. indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint.

5. inconspicuous or unnoticeable: the obscure beginnings of a great movement.

6. of little or no prominence, note, fame, or distinction: an obscure French artist.

7. far from public notice, worldly affairs, or important activities; remote; retired: an obscure little town.

8. lacking in light or illumination; dark; dim; murky: an obscure back room.

9. enveloped in, concealed by, or frequenting darkness.

10. not bright or lustrous; dull or darkish, as color or appearance.

11. (of a vowel) having the reduced or neutral sound usually represented by the schwa /euh/.

v.t.

12. to conceal or conceal by confusing (the meaning of a statement, poem, etc.).

13. to make dark, dim, indistinct, etc.

14. to reduce or neutralize (a vowel) to the sound usually represented by a schwa /euh/.

n.

15. obscurity.

[1350-1400; ME < OF oscur, obscur < L obscurus dark]

Syn. 1. doubtful, dubious. See mysterious. 4. blurred, veiled. 6. undistinguished, unnoted, unknown. 7. secluded, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unnoticed. 8. cloudy, dusky, somber. See dark.

Ant. 1. certain. 4. clear. 6. noted. 7. conspicuous. 8. bright.

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