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Webster 1913 Edition

Obscure

Ob-scure′

(ŏb-skūr′)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Obscurer
(ŏb-skūr′ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
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.
Shakespeare
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 incomprehensible;
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′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Obscured
(ŏb-skūrd′)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Obscuring
.]
[L.
obscurare
, fr.
obscurus
: cf. OF.
obscurer
. See
Obscure
,
Adj.
]
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.
Shakespeare
Why, 't is an office of discovery, love,
And I should be
obscured
.
Shakespeare
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′

(ŏb-skūr′)
,
Verb.
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′

,
Noun.
Obscurity.
[Obs.]
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Obscure

OBSCU'RE

,
Adj.
[L. obscurus.]
1.
Dark; destitute of light.
Whoso curseth his father or mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Prov. 20.
2.
Living in darkness; as the obscure bird.
3.
Not easily understood; not obviously intelligible; abstruse; as an obscure passage in a writing.
4.
Not much known or observed; retired; remote from observation; as an obscure retreat.
5.
Not noted; unknown; unnoticed; humble; mean; as an obscure person; a person of obscure birth.
6.
Not easily legible; as an obscure inscription.
7.
Not clear, full or distinct; imperfect; as an obscure view of remote objects.

OBSCU'RE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. obscuro.]
1.
To darken; to make dark. The shadow of the earth obscures the moon, and the body of the moon obscures the sun, in an eclipse.
2.
To cloud; to make partially dark. Thick clouds obscure the day.
3.
To hide from the view; as, clouds obscure the sun.
4.
To make less visible.
Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love, and I should be obscured.
5.
To make less legible; as, time has obscured the writing.
6.
To make less intelligible.
There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of the learned as this.
7.
To make less glorious, beautiful or illustrious.
- And see'st not sin obscures thy godlike frame?
8.
To conceal; to make unknown.
9.
To tarnish; as, to obscure brightness.

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