Obnubilate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɒbˈnjuːbɪlət/

Definitions

1. To cloud, darken, or obscure something, especially in terms of mental clarity or understanding
2. To obscure or cloud one's perception or understanding, often leading to confusion or a lack of clarity about a situation or thought process
3. To darken or hinder clarity in various contexts, impeding comprehension or insight into information or emotions

Etymology: "Obnubilate" is a learned borrowing from Latin "obnūbilātus," the past participle of "obnūbilāre," meaning "to cover with clouds or fog." The Latin verb combines "ob-," meaning "over" or "against," with "nūbilāre," "to be cloudy," itself built on "nūbēs," "cloud." Those cloud words trace back to an ancient root meaning "to cover," which is also the ancestor of "nebula," the Latin word for mist that English later adopted for interstellar gas clouds. The English verb keeps the picture of a sky being covered over, but applies it to the mind. Where the Latin sense was literal, a hillside hidden by mist, English uses the word for anything that dims understanding, so that a confusing report or a clouded emotion can be said to obnubilate a person's judgment. The word is a sophisticated, bookish choice, the sort of term a writer reaches for when plain words like "confuse" feel too blunt.

Synonyms: cloud, obscure, conceal

Antonyms: reveal, clarify