Ob*scure" (?), a.
[Compar. Obscurer (?);
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.]
1. Covered over, shaded, or darkened;
destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.
His lamp shall be put out in obscure
darkness.
Prov. xx. 20.
2. Of or pertaining to darkness or night;
inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired;
remote from observation; unnoticed.
The obscure bird
Clamored the livelong night.
Shak.
The obscure corners of the earth.
Sir J. Davies.
3. Not noticeable; humble; mean. "O
base and obscure vulgar." Shak. "An obscure
person." Atterbury.
4. Not easily understood; not clear or
legible; abstruse or blind; as, an obscure passage or
inscription.
5. Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded;
imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects.
Obscure rays (Opt.), those rays which
are not luminous or visible, and which in the spectrum are beyond the
limits of the visible portion.
Syn. -- Dark; dim; darksome; dusky; shadowy; misty;
abstruse; intricate; difficult; mysterious; retired; unnoticed;
unknown; humble; mean; indistinct.
Ob*scure", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Obscured (?); 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.
They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak,
with obscured lights.
Shak.
Why, 't is an office of discovery, love,
And I should be obscured.
Shak.
There is scarce any duty which has been so
obscured by the writings of learned men as this.
Wake.
And seest not sin obscures thy godlike
frame?
Dryden.
Ob*scure" (?), v. i. To conceal
one's self; to hide; to keep dark. [Obs.]
How! There's bad news.
I must obscure, and hear it.
Beau. &
Fl.
Ob*scure", n. Obscurity.
[Obs.] Milton.
