Middle English Dictionary Entry
obscūre adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | obscūre adj. Also obskure & oscure. |
| Etymology | L obscūrus & OF oscur, obscur. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Dark; fig. morally unenlightened; lacking spiritual understanding; of love: gloomy; (b) incomprehensible; enigmatical; ambiguous; (c) indistinct, barely audible.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1241 : The troubly nyght, myrk and ful obscure [vr. oscure], hath brought this knyght..Vnto the paleys.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5348 : Love..Now is faire, and now obscure, Now bright, now clipsi of manere, And whilom dym, and whilom clere.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)199/19 : Vnder coloure to declare us trouth, they haue brought us in this obscure derkenesse.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)463/39 : In owr soules, lord, mak thy dwellyng place; Reymeve awey the nyghte of synne obscure.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2339 : Cybile..gaff an ansuere ful obscure, Wherupon she made hem sore muse.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)564 : But for that this matere ys obscure and to onletterryd noght delectabyl, I pase schortly.
- (1459) Paston (Gairdner)3.151 : I will and ordeyne that no persone..for no douteful or obskure materes conteynid in this my present will..shall take ony maner of avauntage.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.55 : There be other names of cites founde in cronicles obscure to the intellecte.
- a1509(?1468) Marriage in Archaeol.31 (Add 46354)328 : The pageantes wear so obscure that I fere me to writ or speke of them, because all was cuntenaunce and no wordes.
- a1509(?1468) Marriage in Archaeol.31 (Add 46354)333 : Unto me nothinge so obscure as the crafte of the making of the Rocke.
c
- ?a1450 Whane that phebus beemes (Cleo C.4)6 : Walkyng alone for my recreacyoun, A voyse I harde, ryght mervelus obscure, Wych sayde, Harken vnto my protestacyoun.