Meaning & Definition of word "Obscure"

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    Obscure

    /əbˈskjʊr/

    verb:

    • 1. To keep from being seen; conceal.
      • Example: The tall buildings obscure the view of the mountains.
    • 2. To make unclear or difficult to understand.
      • Example: The legal jargon served to obscure the true meaning of the contract.

    adjective:

    • 1. Not clearly expressed or easily understood; ambiguous.
      • Example: The professor's lecture was so obscure that many students left the class confused.
    • 2. Not discovered or known about; uncertain.
      • Example: The origins of the ancient artifact are still obscure to researchers.
    • 3. Little known or not well known.
      • Example: He was an obscure author until his novel became a bestseller.

    Etymology

    Middle English: from Latin obscurus, meaning 'dark, unclear'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    obscure reference:

    A mention of something unknown or not commonly recognized.

    obscure origins:

    Unclear or unknown beginnings or sources.

    to obscure the truth:

    To hide or make the truth unclear.

    Related Words

    obscurity:

    The state of being unknown or inconspicuous.

    obfuscate:

    To deliberately make something difficult to understand.

    Slang Meanings of obscure

    Meaning: Overlooked or not popular.

    Example Sentence: That band is really obscure, but they have great music.

    Meaning: Hard to find or access.

    Example Sentence: The information is pretty obscure; I had to dig deep to find it.