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adj. ob·scur·er, ob·scur·est 1. Deficient in light; dark: the obscure depths of a cave. 2. a. So faintly perceptible as to lack clear delineation; indistinct: an obscure figure in the fog. b. Indistinctly heard; faint. c. Linguistics Having the reduced, neutral sound represented by schwa (ə). 3. a. Far from centers of human population: an obscure village. b. Out of sight; hidden: an obscure retreat. 4. Not readily noticed or seen; inconspicuous: an obscure flaw. 5. Of undistinguished or humble station or reputation: an obscure poet; an obscure family. 6. Not clearly understood or expressed; ambiguous or vague: Some say that Blake's style is obscure and complex. See Synonyms at ambiguous. tr.v. ob·scured, ob·scur·ing, ob·scures 1. To make dim, indistinct, or impossible to see: "His face was obscured in shadow" (Rosemary Mahoney). See Synonyms at block. 2. To make difficult to discern mentally or understand: The meaning of the text was obscured by its difficult language. 3. To diminish the stature of; overshadow or detract from: "[His] character was so repellent that it has obscured his historical role" (David Rains Wallace). 4. Linguistics To reduce (a vowel) to the neutral sound represented by schwa (ə). n. Something obscure or unknown. [Middle English, from Old French obscur, from Latin obscūrus; see (s)keu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ob·scurely adv. ob·scureness n. |
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