obscure
UK[əbˈskjʊə]US[əbˈskjʊr]
adj
not discovered or known about; uncertain
adj
not clearly expressed or easily understood
v
to make something unclear or difficult to understand
v
to conceal something from view
Morpheme Breakdown
ob
scure
ob
over, against
scure
to cover
Etymology
The word "obscure" entered English in the late 14th century from the Old French obscur, which itself descended from the Latin obscūrus, meaning "dark, dim, shadowy, indistinct." The Latin term is a compound of the intensive prefix ob- ("over") and the root scūrus ("covered"), suggesting the literal sense of being "covered over." This concrete imagery of being shrouded in darkness evolved metaphorically to describe things that are hidden from knowledge, difficult to see physically, or not clearly understood intellectually. The verb form, meaning "to darken or conceal," followed in the mid-16th century, extending the core concept of covering from a state to an action.
Analysis
Structure: ob (over, against) + scure (to cover)
- ob: A Latin prefix meaning "over, against, toward, completely." It often indicates opposition, blockage, or intensity.
- scure: Derived from the Latin verb scūrus, meaning "covered." This root is related to the Latin obscūrus, meaning "dark, hidden."
Examples
The artist's early life remains obscure, with few records surviving.
He used technical jargon that only served to obscure his main point.
The moon was obscured by thick clouds for most of the night.