obscurus Latin · revision 5386

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=Ennius|origins=itc-pro *skoiro-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɔpˈskuː.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [obˈskuː.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obscūrus''' (feminine obscūra, neuter obscūrum, comparative obscūrior, superlative obscūrissimus, adverb obscūrē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ob-|*scūrus]], a fossilized compound of [[m|la|ob-]] and an adjective *scūrus “dark”, from [[itc-pro|*skoi-ro-]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan derives this from [[ine-pro|*skoh₂-i-ro-|t=dark, shady]], comparing [[grc|σκίρον|tr=skíron|t=parasol]] and [[got|𐍃𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍂𐍃|tr=skeirs|t=clear]], and notes that the division ⟨ob-scūrus⟩ or ⟨obs-cūrus⟩ is disputed.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD compares [[en|sky]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Ennius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant dark or dim, of light, stars and places, as in Virgil's ''obscūrus lūcus'' “a dark grove” and ''nox obscūra''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It then meant dimly seen, hidden from sight, of sounds muffled, and of people little known or humble.^(OLD 2012) Of facts, speech and writing it meant obscure, uncertain or hard to understand, and of character reserved or secretive.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''obscūrum'', darkness as an obstruction of light, opposed to ''illūstre'', with [[tenebrae]], complete darkness.^(Döderlein 1874) [[en|obscure]] is recorded about 1400, first in the sense “dark”.^(Etymonline) It survives in [[it|oscuro]], [[it|scuro]] and [[es|oscuro]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a dim, misty star.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of a dark grove.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''obscure'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dark, dim, [[m|en|gloomy]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Dimly seen, shadowy; hidden.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of sound) Muffled.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of persons) Little known, humble.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Uncertain, hard to understand, [[m|en|obscure]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # (of character) Reserved, secretive.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[obscurefacio]]

+ * [[obscūridicus]]

+ * [[obscūritās]]

+ * [[obscūrō]]

+ * [[obscūrum]]

+ * [[perobscūrus]]

+ * [[subobscūrus]]

+ * [[obscūrē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[obscūrātiō]]

+ * [[en|obscure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}