Obscuring: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'obscurare', which means 'to darken' or 'to hide'.
• In Old French, 'obscur' also meant 'dark' or 'dim', highlighting its association with visibility.
• The term began to be used in English around the late 15th century, describing both tangible and abstract forms of hiding or darkness.

Art

• In visual art, obscuring can create depth, making foreground elements stand out against blurred backgrounds.
• The technique of obscuring details is often employed in impressionist paintings, allowing viewers to interpret scenes subjectively.
• Some photographers use blurring methods to obscure parts of their images, leading to a focus on emotions rather than explicit details.

Psychology

• Cognitive biases can obscure our understanding, leading to misinterpretations based on preconceived notions.
• Emotional states, such as stress or anxiety, can obscure our perception of reality, making it hard to see situations clearly.
• Obscured memories can emerge during therapy, with clients often recovering hidden or repressed emotions associated with past experiences.

Literature

• In poetry, obscuring language can evoke complex emotions, leaving interpretation open to the reader's imagination.
• Some authors craft narratives that purposefully obscure the truth, creating suspense and engaging readers in unraveling the mystery.
• Fictional works featuring unreliable narrators often obscure the actual events, making readers question what is real and what is not.

Technology

• In computer science, data obscuring techniques are used to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
• Obscuring elements in user interfaces can enhance user experience by simplifying how information is presented.
• Obscuring code can be a security measure, preventing easy understanding of the program's structure and logic by potential attackers.

Positioned at #21,045, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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