Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
905,615,010 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

obscurity

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
ob·scu·ri·ty  (b-skyr-t, b-)
n. pl. ob·scu·ri·ties
1. Deficiency or absence of light; darkness.
2.
a. The quality or condition of being unknown: "Even utter obscurity need not be an obstacle to [political] success" New Republic.
b. One that is unknown.
3.
a. The quality or condition of being imperfectly known or difficult to understand: "writings meant to be understood . . . by all, composed without deliberate obscurity or hidden motives" National Review.
b. An instance of being imperfectly known or difficult to understand.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.obscurityobscurity - the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
incomprehensibility - the quality of being incomprehensible
clarity, clearness, limpidity, lucidity, lucidness, pellucidity - free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression
2.obscurity - an obscure and unimportant standing; not well known; "he worked in obscurity for many years"
standing - social or financial or professional status or reputation; "of equal standing"; "a member in good standing"
anonymity, namelessness - the state of being anonymous
humbleness, lowliness, obscureness, unimportance - the state of being humble and unimportant
nowhere - an insignificant place; "he came out of nowhere"
limbo, oblivion - the state of being disregarded or forgotten
prominence - the state of being prominent: widely known or eminent
3.obscurity - the state of being indistinct or indefinite for lack of adequate illumination
semidarkness - partial darkness

obscurity
Translations
Spanish obscurity [əbˈskjuərɪtɪ] noscuridad f;
(obscure point) → punto oscuro;
to rise from obscurity → salir de la nada

French obscurity [əbˈskjuərɪtɪ] nobscurité f
German obscurity [əbˈskjuərɪtɪ] obscure n [of person, book] → Unbekanntheit f [of remark etc] → Unklarheit f
Italian obscurity [əbˈskjuərɪtɪ] noscurità (= obscure point); punto oscuro (= lack of fame); anonimato

?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
A still greater obscurity lies in the distinctive characters by which the objects in each of these great departments of nature have been arranged and assorted.
AN Old Politician and a Young Politician were travelling through a beautiful country, by the dusty highway which leads to the City of Prosperous Obscurity.
It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.