ob•scure^*əbˈskyʊər(adj.)-scur•er, -scur•est

1. (adj.)(of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain.

2. not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive:

   obscure motives.

3. (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.

4. not readily seen, heard, etc.; indistinct; faint.

   Category: Common Vocabulary

5. inconspicuous or unnoticeable:

   the obscure beginnings of a movement.

6. of little or no prominence or distinction; unknown:

   an obscure artist.

7. far from public notice or activity; remote:

   an obscure little town.

8. lacking in light or illumination; dark; dim; murky.

9. enveloped in or concealed by darkness.

10. (of a vowel) having the reduced or neutral sound usu. represented by the schwa (ə).

    Category: Phonetics

11. (v.t.)to conceal or confuse (meaning, intention, or the like); cover; mask.

    Category: Common Vocabulary

12. to make dark, dim, indistinct, etc.

13. to reduce or neutralize (a vowel) to the sound usu. represented by a schwa (ə).

    Category: Phonetics

14. Ref: obscurity.

^* Syn: See mysterious.

Origin of obscure:

1400–50; late ME < OF oscur, obscur < L obscūrus dark

ob•scure′ness(n.)