obscure > define

verb

• Make less visible or unclear.
  • usage: "The stars are obscured by the clouds"; "the big elm tree obscures our view of the valley"
  • synonyms: befog, becloud, obnubilate, haze over, fog, cloud, mist
• Make unclear, indistinct, or blurred.
  • usage: "Her remarks confused the debate"; "Their words obnubilate their intentions"
  • synonyms: confuse, blur, obnubilate
• Make obscure or unclear.
  • usage: "The distinction was obscured"
  • synonyms: bedim, overcloud
• Reduce a vowel to a neutral one, such as a schwa.
• Make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing.
  • usage: "a hidden message"; "a veiled threat"
  • synonyms: blot out, obliterate, veil, hide

adjective

• Not clearly understood or expressed."an obscure turn of phrase"; "an impulse to go off and fight certain obscure battles of his own spirit-Anatole Broyard; "their descriptions of human behavior become vague, dull, and unclear- P. A. Sorokin; "vague... Forms of speech... Have so long passed for mysteries of science- John Locke
  • synonyms: vague
• Marked by difficulty of style or expression.
  • usage: "much that was dark is now quite clear to me"; "those who do not appreciate Kafka's work say his style is obscure"
  • synonyms: dark
• Difficult to find.
  • usage: "hidden valleys"; "a hidden cave"; "an obscure retreat"
  • synonyms: hidden
• Not famous or acclaimed.
  • usage: "an obscure family"; "unsung heroes of the war"
  • synonyms: unknown, unsung
• Not drawing attention.
  • usage: "an unnoticeable cigarette burn on the carpet"; "an obscure flaw"
  • synonyms: unnoticeable
• Remote and separate physically or socially.
  • usage: "existed over the centuries as a world apart"; "preserved because they inhabited a place apart- W. H. Hudson; "tiny isolated villages remote from centers of civilization"; "an obscure village"
  • synonyms: apart, isolated

• (superl.) Not noticeable; humble; mean.
• (n.) Obscurity.
• (a.) 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.
• (superl.) Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or blind; as, an obscure passage or inscription.
• (superl.) Not clear, full or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects.
• (v.i.) To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark.
• (superl.) Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from observation; unnoticed.
• (superl.) Covered over, shaded or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.