obscure: Meaning and Definition of

ob•scure

Pronunciation: (ub-skyoor'), [key]
— adj., v., n. -scur•er, -scur•est, -scured, -scur•ing,
—adj.
  1. (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.
  2. not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive: obscure motivations.
  3. (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.
  4. indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint.
  5. inconspicuous or unnoticeable: the obscure beginnings of a great movement.
  6. of little or no prominence, note, fame, or distinction: an obscure French artist.
  7. far from public notice, worldly affairs, or important activities; remote; retired: an obscure little town.
  8. lacking in light or illumination; dark; dim; murky: an obscure back room.
  9. enveloped in, concealed by, or frequenting darkness.
  10. not bright or lustrous; dull or darkish, as color or appearance.
  11. (of a vowel) having the reduced or neutral sound usually represented by the schwa (&schwa;).
—v.t.
  1. to conceal or conceal by confusing (the meaning of a statement, poem, etc.).
  2. to make dark, dim, indistinct, etc.
  3. to reduce or neutralize (a vowel) to the sound usually represented by a schwa (&schwa;).
—n.
  1. obscurity.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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