obscure

 
Pronunciation: /əbˈskjʊə/

adjective (obscurer, obscurest)

  • 1not discovered or known about; uncertain: his origins and parentage are obscure
  • not important or well known: a relatively obscure actor
  • 2not clearly expressed or easily understood: obscure references to Proust
  • hard to make out or define; vague: grey and obscure on the horizon rose a low island I feel an obscure resentment

verb

[with object]
  • keep from being seen; conceal: grey clouds obscure the sun
  • make unclear and difficult to understand: the debate has become obscured by conflicting ideological perspectives
  • keep from being known: none of this should obscure the skill and perseverance of the workers

Derivatives

obscuration

Pronunciation: /-ˈreɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

obscurely

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French obscur, from Latin obscurus 'dark', from an Indo-European root meaning 'cover'