OBSCURITY


Meaning of OBSCURITY in English

ob ‧ scu ‧ ri ‧ ty /əbˈskjʊərəti, əbˈskjʊərɪti $ -ˈskjʊr-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural obscurities )

1 . [uncountable] the state of not being known or remembered

fade/slide/sink etc into obscurity

The group produced two albums before disappearing into obscurity.

live/work/remain etc in obscurity

O'Brien died in obscurity.

from obscurity to something

She rose from obscurity to stardom.

2 . [uncountable and countable] something that is difficult to understand, or the quality of being difficult to understand:

obscurities in the text

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COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs

▪ fade into obscurity (=to gradually be forgotten after being well-known)

The band faded into obscurity as the 1980s progressed.

▪ slide/slip/sink into obscurity (=fade into obscurity)

Many scientific theories are never proved and slip into obscurity.

▪ work/labour/toil in obscurity (=work without being well-known)

After years of working in obscurity, his paintings are now hanging in museums.

▪ languish in obscurity (=to fail to become well-known or successful)

Until recently her talent has languished in obscurity.

▪ rise/emerge from obscurity (=to become well-known after not being known at all)

Harris received coaching and rose from obscurity to stardom.

▪ rescue somebody/something from obscurity (=to stop someone or something from being forgotten)

He was rescued from obscurity by Alder's brilliant biography in 1985.

▪ be plucked from obscurity (=to take someone or something that is not known about and make them well-known)

The actress has been plucked from obscurity to become the new Bond girl.

▪ be relegated/consigned to obscurity (=to be put in the position of being forgotten after being well-known )

Inevitably, many good players are relegated to obscurity.

■ adjectives

▪ relative/comparative obscurity (=not known about compared to other things that are better known)

He brought the team from relative obscurity to fame.

▪ total obscurity

The competition has helped some aspiring writers to emerge from total obscurity.

▪ professional/political obscurity (=not known about in your profession or in politics)

After his defeat, he sank into political obscurity.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.