From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Obscure \Ob*scure"\ ([o^]b*sk[=u]r"), a. [Compar. Obscurer
([o^]b*sk[=u]r"[~e]r); superl. Obscurest.] [L. obscurus,
orig., covered; ob- (see Ob-) + a root probably meaning, to
cover; cf. L. scutum shield, Skr. sku to cover: cf. F.
obscur. Cf. Sky.]
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1. Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light;
imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.
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His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
--Prov. xx.
20.
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2. Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to
the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from
observation; unnoticed.
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The obscure bird
Clamored the livelong night. --Shak.
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The obscure corners of the earth. --Sir J.
Davies.
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3. Not noticeable; humble; mean. "O base and obscure vulgar."
--Shak. "An obscure person." --Atterbury.
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4. Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or
incomprehensible; as, an obscure passage or inscription.
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5. Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an
obscure view of remote objects.
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Obscure rays (Opt.), those rays which are not luminous or
visible, and which in the spectrum are beyond the limits
of the visible portion.
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Syn: Dark; dim; darksome; dusky; shadowy; misty; abstruse;
intricate; difficult; mysterious; retired; unnoticed;
unknown; humble; mean; indistinct.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Obscure \Ob*scure"\ ([o^]b*sk[=u]r"), v. i.
To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark. [Obs.]
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How! There's bad news.
I must obscure, and hear it. --Beau. & Fl.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Obscure \Ob*scure"\, n.
Obscurity. [Obs.] --Milton.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Obscure \Ob*scure"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obscured
([o^]b*sk[=u]rd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Obscuring.] [L.
obscurare, fr. obscurus: cf. OF. obscurer. See Obscure, a.]
To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the
dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible,
glorious, beautiful, or illustrious.
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They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with
obscured lights. --Shak.
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Why, 't is an office of discovery, love,
And I should be obscured. --Shak.
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There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by
the writings of learned men as this. --Wake.
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And seest not sin obscures thy godlike frame? --Dryden.
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