Obscurity: meaning, definitions and examples

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obscurity

[ əbˈskjʊərɪti ]

^{Context #1}

in literature

The state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant. Obscurity can refer to a lack of clarity or understanding.

Synonyms

ambiguity, obscureness, unfamiliarity

Examples of usage

The author's early works languished in obscurity before gaining recognition later in life.
The origins of the ancient artifact are shrouded in obscurity.

^{Context #2}

in astronomy

A region of space that is dark or not easily visible, often due to the presence of dust clouds or other celestial bodies blocking the view.

Synonyms

concealment, darkness, opacity

Examples of usage

The telescope revealed a previously undiscovered star hidden in the obscurity of the Milky Way.
Astronomers study the depths of obscurity to uncover new phenomena.

^{Context #3}

in philosophy

The quality of being unknown or unknowable, especially in terms of metaphysical or existential questions.

Synonyms

enigma, inscrutability, mystery

Examples of usage

The concept of the afterlife is often shrouded in obscurity and mystery.
Philosophers debate the obscurity of consciousness and its relation to the physical world.

Translations

Translations of the word "obscurity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 obscuridade

escuridão
desconhecimento

🇮🇳 अस्पष्टता

🇩🇪 Unklarheit

Dunkelheit
Unbekanntheit

🇮🇩 ketidakjelasan

kegelapan
ketidaktahuan

🇺🇦 неясність

темрява
невідомість

🇵🇱 niejasność

ciemność
nieznajomość

🇯🇵 不明

暗闇
無名

🇫🇷 obscurité

ténèbres
inconnue

🇪🇸 oscuridad

🇹🇷 karanlık

belirsizlik
bilinmezlik

🇰🇷 불명확

어둠
무명

🇸🇦 غموض

ظلام
مجهول

🇨🇿 nejasnost

temnota
neznámost

🇸🇰 nejasnosť

temnota
neznámosť

🇨🇳 模糊

黑暗
不为人知

🇸🇮 nejasnost

tema
neznanje

🇮🇸 óvissa

myrkur
óþekkt

🇰🇿 түсініксіздік

қараңғылық
белгісіздік

🇬🇪 არასპეციფიკურობა

სიბნელე
უცნობობა

🇦🇿 qeyri-müəyyənlik

qaranlıq
naməlumluq

🇲🇽 oscuridad

Word origin

The word 'obscurity' originated from the Latin word 'obscuritas', meaning darkness or obscurity. It has been used in English since the late 14th century to describe the state of being unknown or not easily seen. Over time, 'obscurity' has evolved to encompass various fields such as literature, astronomy, and philosophy, reflecting its versatility in describing hidden, unclear, or mysterious aspects of the world.