dark English · revision 2630

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)|origins=gem-pro *derkaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /dɑːk/, US /dɑːrk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|derk]], [[inh|ang|deorc|t=without light; gloomy; sinister, wicked]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*derkaz]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source also of Old High German [[m|goh|tarchanjan|t=to hide, conceal]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) of uncertain etymology.^(Etymonline) Barnhart and Klein compare Middle Irish derg “red” and Lithuanian darga “rainy weather”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) and Word Origins calls the origins mysterious, suggesting a link with German tarnen “to conceal”.^(Cresswell 2021) The noun is from the adjective,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and the verb is Old English [[m|ang|deorcian|t=to grow dim]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English deorc: about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988) Middle English dork, derk is from about 1200.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figuratively Old English deorc already meant “sad, cheerless; sinister, wicked”.^(Etymonline) “Obscure, not easily understood” is from the early 13th century,^(Etymonline) and the noun, the absence of light, night-time, from the same time.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Of complexion, “not fair”, it is from the early 14th century, and of colours, “approaching black”, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “Concealed, secret” is from the late 14th century, and ''in the dark'' then meant “in secrecy”.^(Etymonline) “In a state of ignorance” is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) and ''to keep someone in the dark'' from the early 17th century.^(Cresswell 2021) “Sullen, sad” is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) A dark room was formerly thought a proper place to confine a madman, from 1590.^(OED 1989) ''Dark horse'' is from 1831,^(Barnhart 1988) ''Dark Continent'' for Africa from 1828,^(Etymonline) and ''Dark Ages'' from 1876, earlier ''dark ages'' from 1748.^(Barnhart 1988) A theatre that is closed is ''dark'' in theatre slang.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – without light.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – obscure; noun, darkness.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – of complexion.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – of colour; secret.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – sullen.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – ''in the dark'', ignorant.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1828 – ''Dark Continent''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1831 – ''dark horse''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # With little or no light.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of a colour, deep and close to black; of hair or skin, brown or black.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Gloomy or sad; [[sinister]] or evil.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Hidden or secret; hard to understand.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of a theatre, closed.^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The absence of light; [[darkness]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Night or nightfall: ''after dark''.^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[darkish]]

+ * [[darkly]]

+ * [[darkness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[darken]]

+ * [[darkling]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Dark night of the soul'' comes from the title of a poem by St John of the Cross, ''Noche oscura'', rendered by a Victorian translator as “Dark Night of the Soul”.^(Cresswell 2021) F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in 1936 that “in a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning”.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}