Dark"ness, n. 1.
The absence of light; blackness; obscurity; gloom.
And darkness was upon the face of the
deep.
Gen. i. 2.
2. A state of privacy; secrecy.
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in
light.
Matt. x. 27.
3. A state of ignorance or error, especially
on moral or religious subjects; hence, wickedness;
impurity.
Men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil.
John. iii. 19.
Pursue these sons of darkness: drive them
out
From all heaven's bounds.
Milton.
4. Want of clearness or perspicuity;
obscurity; as, the darkness of a subject, or of a
discussion.
5. A state of distress or trouble.
A day of clouds and of thick
darkness.
Joel. ii. 2.
Prince of darkness, the Devil; Satan.
"In the power of the Prince of darkness." Locke.
Syn. -- Darkness, Dimness, Obscurity,
Gloom. Darkness arises from a total, and
dimness from a partial, want of light. A thing is
obscure when so overclouded or covered as not to be easily
perceived. As tha shade or obscurity increases, it deepens
into gloom. What is dark is hidden from view; what is
obscure is difficult to perceive or penetrate; the eye becomes
dim with age; an impending storm fills the atmosphere with
gloom. When taken figuratively, these words have a like use;
as, the darkness of ignorance; dimness of discernment;
obscurity of reasoning; gloom of superstition.
