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Entry 8 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Obscure

/(ŏb*skūr")/ · Ob·scure · IPA /əbˈskjʊɹ/
01 a. Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.
  1. 1.
    Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.
    “His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” — Prov. xx. 20.
  2. 2.
    Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from observation; unnoticed.
    “The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night.” — Shak.
    “The obscure corners of the earth.” — Sir J. Davies.
  3. 3.
    Not noticeable; humble; mean.
  4. 4.
    Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or incomprehensible; as, an obscure passage or inscription.
  5. 5.
    Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects.
Phrases & compounds
Obscure rays — those rays which are not luminous or visible, and which in the spectrum are beyond the limits of the visible portion.
Syn. Dark; dim; darksome; dusky; shadowy; misty; abstruse; intricate; difficult; mysterious; retired; unnoticed; unknown; humble; mean; indistinct.
02 v. t. To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible, glorious, beautiful, …
imp. & p. p. Obscured; p. pr. & vb. n. Obscuring
  1. 1.
    To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious.
    “They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with obscured lights.” — Shak.
    “Why, 't is an office of discovery, love, And I should be obscured.” — Shak.
    “There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of learned men as this.” — Wake.
    “And seest not sin obscures thy godlike frame?” — Dryden.
03 v. i. To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark.
  1. 1.
    To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark.[Obs.]
    “How! There's bad news. I must obscure, and hear it.” — Beau. & Fl.
04 n. Obscurity.
  1. 1.
    Obscurity.[Obs.]