obscurity

Etymology

From Middle French obscurité, from Latin obscūritās; synchronically analyzable as obscure + -ity.

noun

  1. (literary) Darkness; the absence of light.
    The night was considerably clearer than anybody on board her desired when the schooner Ventura headed for the land. It rose in places, black and sharp against the velvety indigo, over her dipping bow, though most of the low littoral was wrapped in obscurity. 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 6, in The Dust of Conflict
  2. The state of being unknown; a thing that is unknown.
    The departure was not unduly prolonged.[…]Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments[…]; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity. 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
  3. The quality of being difficult to understand; a thing that is difficult to understand.

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