obscure English · revision 15518

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=ine-pro *(s)kewH-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əbˈskjʊɹ/, /əbˈskjɝ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|obscur|t=dark, dim, not clear]] (also [[m|fro|oscur]]) and directly [[la|obscūrus|t=covered over, dark]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|ob|t=over]] and a form -scūrus, covered,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*(s)kewH-|t=to cover, conceal]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[sky]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Dark, dim, and figuratively gloomy: about 1400 in the OED and Etymonline, probably before 1400 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin word brought many senses, dim, hidden, hard to understand, humble, all of which influenced the English word.^(Cresswell 2021) Not readily understood is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and hidden or remote, of a place, from 1484.^(OED 1989) Of persons, not famous or noted, it is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline) and indistinct in outline from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb, to cover or cloud over, is from the early 15th century, and to conceal or disguise from the 1520s.^(Etymonline) Obscurity is from about 1477, obscurant from 1799 and obscurantism from 1834.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – dark, dim.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – hard to understand; to obscure (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1484 – hidden, remote.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540s – unknown to fame.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – indistinct.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not known to many people; not famous or important.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Hard to understand; not clear.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not clearly seen, heard or felt; [[indistinct]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Hidden or remote.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To keep from being seen or understood; to [[conceal]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make dark or dim.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[obscurely]]

+ * [[obscureness]]

+ * [[obscuration]]

+ * [[subobscure]]

+ * [[unobscure]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[clare-obscure]]

+ * [[obscurity]]

+ * [[obscurant]]

+ * [[obscurantism]]

+ * [[sky]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Scots, obscure meant secret or concealed.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}