Obscurus

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by a lack of clarity or visibility; relating to something that is difficult to understand or comprehend; often applied in contexts where the meaning or significance is hidden or vague
2. Pertaining to an aspect that is enigmatic or shadowy; encompassing phenomena that are not readily apparent or comprehensible; used to describe elements of greater complexity or obscurity in literature or philosophy
3. Describing a situation or concept that shrouds its true meaning in darkness or ambiguity; relating to matters that demand deeper insight or knowledge to be grasped; often denotes an elusive quality or depth of meaning

Etymology: "Obscurus" is the Latin adjective from which English gets "obscure," and its core sense is literal: "dark," "shaded," "dim," or "covered over," as with a sky clouded by night or a place lacking light. The word is formed from "ob-" ("over, against") and a root connected to "scurum," a covering or cover, so the image is something thrown over and hidden from view. Latin writers applied it to physical darkness long before it described obscure ideas. The shift from light to meaning happened gradually in Latin. Poets and orators began using "obscurus" for speech that was hard to follow, texts whose sense lay hidden under their wording, and people of low standing who were not known to the public. Roman writers such as Cicero and Quintilian used it in these figurative ways, so the metaphor of a covered light was already established when the word passed into English through French "obscur," arriving in the late 14th century.

Synonyms: obscure, dark, hidden, unclear, vague

Antonyms: clear, bright, obvious, evident, apparent