I. i-ˈklips noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin eclipsis, from Greek ekleipsis, from ekleipein to omit, fail, suffer eclipse, from ex- + leipein to leave — more at loan
Date: 13th century
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
his reputation has fallen into eclipse
3. : the state of being in eclipse plumage
[
eclipse 1a: E earth, M moon in solar eclipse, P penumbra, S sun, U umbra
]
II. transitive verb
( eclipsed ; eclips·ing )
Date: 13th century
: to cause an eclipse of: as
a. : obscure , darken
b. : to reduce in importance or repute
c. : surpass
her score eclipsed the old record