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WordReference can't find this exact phrase, but click on each word to see its meaning:
We could not find the full phrase you were looking for. The entry for "obscure" is displayed below. Also see: writing
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025ob•scure /əbˈskyʊr/USA pronunciation
adj., -scur•er, -scur•est, v., -scured, -scur•ing, adj.
- not clear or plain;
ambiguous, vague, or uncertain:an obscure message; obscure motives.
- not easily noticed:the obscure beginnings of a revolutionary movement.
- of little or no fame or distinction;
unknown:an obscure artist.
- dark;
dim;
murky;
hard to see, as if hidden by darkness:An obscure figure loomed out of the shadows.
v. [~ + object]
- to conceal;
cover;
mask:Poets sometimes try to obscure their message.
- to make dark or indistinct:The darkness obscured his features.
ob•scure•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025ob•scure
(əb skyŏŏr′),USA pronunciation adj., -scur•er, -scur•est, v., -scured, -scur•ing, n. adj.
- (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain:an obscure sentence in the contract.
- not clear to the understanding;
hard to perceive:obscure motivations.
- (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.
- indistinct to the sight or any other sense;
not readily seen, heard, etc.;
faint.
- inconspicuous or unnoticeable:the obscure beginnings of a great movement.
- of little or no prominence, note, fame, or distinction:an obscure French artist.
- far from public notice, worldly affairs, or important activities;
remote;
retired:an obscure little town.
- lacking in light or illumination;
dark;
dim;
murky:an obscure back room.
- enveloped in, concealed by, or frequenting darkness.
- not bright or lustrous;
dull or darkish, as color or appearance.
- Phonetics(of a vowel) having the reduced or neutral sound usually represented by the schwa (ə).
v.t.
- to conceal or conceal by confusing (the meaning of a statement, poem, etc.).
- to make dark, dim, indistinct, etc.
- Phoneticsto reduce or neutralize (a vowel) to the sound usually represented by a schwa (ə).
n.
- obscurity.
- Latin obscūrus dark
- Old French oscur, obscur
- Middle English 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged doubtful, dubious. See mysterious.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged blurred, veiled.
- 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged undistinguished, unnoted, unknown.
- 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged secluded, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unnoticed.
- 8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged cloudy, dusky, somber. See dark.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged certain.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged clear.
- 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged noted.
- 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged conspicuous.
- 8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bright.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
obscure / əbˈskjʊə/ - unclear or abstruse
- indistinct, vague, or indefinite
- inconspicuous or unimportant
- hidden, secret, or remote
- (of a vowel) reduced to or transformed into a neutral vowel ( ə )
- gloomy, dark, clouded, or dim
(transitive)- to make unclear, vague, or hidden
- to cover or cloud over
- to pronounce (a vowel) with articulation that causes it to become a neutral sound represented by ( ə )
- a rare word for obscurity
Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin obscūrus darkobscuration / ˌɒbskjʊˈreɪʃən/obˈscurelyobˈscureness
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