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   obscure

   /əbˈskjʊə/

   adjective

   • 1. not discovered or known about; uncertain: "his origins and parentage are obscure" Similar unclearuncertainunknownin doubtdoubtfuldubiousmysterioushazyvagueindeterminateconcealedhidden
   • ▪ not important or well known: "a relatively obscure actor" Similar little knownunknownunheard ofundistinguishedinsignificantunimportantinconsequentialinconspicuousunnoticednamelessanonymousminorhumblelowlyunrenownedunsungunrecognizedunhonouredingloriousforgottenOpposite famousrenowned
   • 2. not clearly expressed or easily understood: "obscure references to Proust" Similar abstrusereconditearcaneesotericrecherchéoccultenigmaticmystifyingpuzzlingperplexingbafflingambiguouscrypticequivocalDelphicoracularriddlingobliqueopaqueellipticalunintelligibleuninterpretableincomprehensibleimpenetrableunfathomableinexplicableunexplainedinformal:as clear as mudOpposite clearplain
   • ▪ hard to define; vague: "I feel an obscure resentment" Similar indistinctfaintvagueill-definedunclearblurredblurrymistyhazyfoggyveiledcloudycloudednebulousfuzzydarkdimunlitblackmurkysombregloomyshadyshadowyliterary:duskytenebrousdarklingcrepuscularrare:caliginousCimmerianOpposite distinct
   • ▪ dark or dim: "the obscure light of dawn"

   verb

   • 1. keep from being seen; conceal: "grey clouds obscure the sun" Similar hideconcealcoverveilshroudscreenmaskcloakcast a shadow overshadowenvelopmantleblockblock outblank outobliterateeclipseovershadowliterary:enshroudbedimbenightrare:obnubilateadumbrateOpposite reveal
   • ▪ make unclear and difficult to understand: "the debate has become obscured by conflicting ideological perspectives" Similar confusecomplicateobfuscatecloudblurmuddymuddy the watersliterary:becloudbefogOpposite clarifyilluminate
   • ▪ keep from being known: "none of this should obscure the skill and perseverance of the workers"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French obscur, from Latin obscurus ‘dark’, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘cover’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. obscurely adverb

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • O

     1

   • B

     3

   • S

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   • C

     3

   • U

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   • R

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   • E

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › obscureObscure Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › obscure

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   1. a. : dark, dim. the obscure dusk of the shuttered room. b. : shrouded in or hidden by darkness. standing obscure in the deepest shade. c. : not clearly seen or easily distinguished : faint. obscure markings. 2. : not readily understood or clearly expressed. also : mysterious. a slough of pretentious and obscure jargon Philip Howard. 3.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishOBSCURE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   OBSCURE definition: 1. not known to many people: 2. not clear and difficult to understand or see: 3. to prevent…. Learn more.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › obscureOBSCURE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › obscure

   • Cached

   Obscure definition: (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain. See examples of OBSCURE used in a sentence.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › obscureObscure - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › obscure

   If something is obscure, it's vague and hard to see. Be careful if you're driving in heavy rain — the painted lines can be obscure.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishOBSCURE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Something that is obscure is difficult to understand or deal with, usually because it involves so many parts or details. The contracts are written in obscure language. Richard's statement was disgracefully obscure.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionobscure adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

   • Cached

   Definition of obscure adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › obscureOBSCURE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › obscure

   • Cached

   OBSCURE definition: 1. not known by many people: 2. difficult to understand: 3. to prevent something from being seen…. Learn more.