[eclipse] n [ME, fr. OF, fr. L eclipsis, fr. Gk ekleipsis, fr. ekleipein to omit, fail, suffer eclipse, fr. ex- + leipein to leave--more at loan] (13c) 1 a: the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another b: the passing into the shadow of a celestial body--compare occultation, transit
2: a falling into obscurity or decline; also: the state of being eclipsed
3: the state of being in eclipse plumage
[2]eclipse vt eclipsed ; eclips.ing (13c): to cause an eclipse of: as a: obscure, darken b: to reduce in importance or repute c: surpass