obscure (adj.) Copy link Outline I. Without natural lightII. Not easily understood1. obscūrus2. rĕcondĭtus (naturally difficult of apprehension; while obscurus often refers only to the way in which a subject is treated)3. perplexus (intricate, puzzling)4. caecus (of that which escapes the eye or mind)5. invŏlūtus (involved, intricate)III. Not distinguished1. obscūrus2. hŭmĭlis, ignōbĭlis • obscure (adj.): I. Without natural light: obscūrus: v. dark. II. Not easily understood: 1. obscūrus: extremely o. (Heraclitus), valde obs., Cic. Div. 2, 64, 133: Lucr.: I strive to be brief, I become o., brevis esse laboro, obs. fio, Hor. A. P. 25. Join: obscurus et ignotus, Cic. de Or. 1, 39, 177; obs. atque caecus, id. Agr. 2, 14, 36. Somewhat o., subobscurus, Cic. 2. rĕcondĭtus (naturally difficult of apprehension; while obscurus often refers only to the way in which a subject is treated): Cic.: v. abstruse, recondite. 3. perplexus (intricate, puzzling): o. speeches (rendered purposely ambiguous), p. sermones, Liv. 40, 5, med.: a somewhat o. theory, ratio perplexior, Plin. 2, 15, 13 § 62. 4. caecus (of that which escapes the eye or mind): cf. Cic. de Or. 2, 87, 357, res caecae et ab aspectus judicio remotae: v. supr. (1). 5. invŏlūtus (involved, intricate): Join: occulta et quasi involuta [aperire], Cic. Fin. 1, 9, 30. Phr.: in an o., enigmatical manner, per ambages, Liv. 1, 56, ad fin.: so, ambages is used of the enigma of the Sphinx, Ov. M. 7, 760: to be intentionally o., sensus suos abdere (condere, recondere), Tac. A. 1, 11: cf. ib., (sensus) in incertum et ambiguum magis implicabantur = he became more o. than ever: see also to obscure (= render obscure). III. Not distinguished: 1. obscūrus: of humble and o. parentage., humili atque o. loco natus, Cic. Verr. 5, 70, 181: illustrious or o., clarus an obs., Quint. 5, 10, 26. 2. hŭmĭlis, ignōbĭlis: v. humble, ignoble.