I. -kliŋ also -kəl- adverb
also dark·lings -ŋz
Etymology: Middle English derkelyng, from derke, derk dark + -lyng -ling — more at dark
: in the dark
must helpless man … roll darkling down the torrent of his fate — Samuel Johnson
II. adjective
1. : done or taking place in the dark
a darkling journey
2. : deeply shadowed or shaded : dark , dusky
friendly darkling hills — Thomas Wood †1950
especially : mysteriously, threateningly, or uncannily dark or obscure
a darkling glance
secret operatives and darkling conspiracies — Archibald MacLeish
Synonyms: see dark