— 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 oscur, obscur 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.