dark (adj.) Copy link Outline I. Lit.1. obscūrus (the most gen. term; applicable to all degrees of darkness)2. cālīgĭnōsus (stronger than obscurus)3. ŏpācus (opp. to apricus)4. tĕnebrōsus (poet.)5. caecus (strictly blind; but also used of external conditions preventing sight6. āter, nĭgerII. Of colours1. pullus (very often of that which is soiled and dirty; but not exclusively so)2. fuscus (of any dark hue)3. nĭger, āter (stronger than the Eng.)4. caerŭleus, caerŭlus (strictly dark blue, azure, the colour of sea-water; but also applied to any dark objectIII. Fig.1. obscūrus2. ambĭguusIV. Also fig.1. tĕnebrĭcōsus2. atrox, ōcis • dark (adj.): I. Lit.: void of light: 1. obscūrus (the most gen. term; applicable to all degrees of darkness): a d. night, nox ob., Sall.: Virg.: d. shade, umbra ob., Virg.: d. gloom (of the sun), ob. ferrugo, id.: a d. cave, ob. antrum, Ov.: when it was now d., ob. jam luce, Liv.: v. dim, obscure. 2. cālīgĭnōsus (stronger than obscurus): atmosphere damp and d., coelum humidum et c., Cic.: Hor. 3. ŏpācus (opp. to apricus): v. shady. 4. tĕnebrōsus (poet.): d. (murky) air, aër t., Virg.: Lucan. (The forms tenebricosus and tenebricus also occur: the former in fig. sense [v. infr.] the latter poet. and rare.) 5. caecus (strictly blind; but also used of external conditions preventing sight: poet.): Lucr.: Virg. 6. āter, nĭger: v. gloomy. Phr.: it suddenly grows d. (in an eclipse), repentinae obducuntur tenebrae, Plin.: when it had grown d., tenebris obortis, Nep.: it grows d. (of evening), vesperascit, Ter. (tenebresco is without good authority: Aug.: Hier.): the eyes become d. (incapable of sight), caligant oculi, Lucr.: a d. lantern, *laterna furtiva: (R. and A.) II. Of colours: 1. pullus (very often of that which is soiled and dirty; but not exclusively so): d. hue of wool, color lanae p., Col.: the d.-hued myrtle, myrtus p., Hor.: the upper part of a hare is d., the belly white, lepus superiore parte p., ventre albo, Varr. 2. fuscus (of any dark hue): black or d. cattle, nigra aut f. pecora, Plin.: d. purple, purpura f., Cic.: Virg.: v. dusky. (Furvus is a poet. form of fuscus, Hor.) 3. nĭger, āter (stronger than the Eng.): v. black, swarthy. 4. caerŭleus, caerŭlus (strictly dark blue, azure, the colour of sea-water; but also applied to any dark object: poet.): the d.-hued horses (of Pluto), caerulei equi, Ov.: d.-hued fillets, caeruleae vittae, Virg. See also darkish. III. Fig.: unintelligible: 1. obscūrus: Lucr.: Cic.: v. obscure. Join: obscurus atque caecus, Cic. 2. ambĭguus: v. ambiguous. Phr.: d. sayings, ambāges, um, f. (in sing. the abl. only occurs). esp. of the oracles: Virg.: Ov.: d. sayings of the law, legum aenigmata, Juv.: Cic. IV. Also fig.: sad, gloomy: 1. tĕnebrĭcōsus: a very d. period, tenebricosissimum tempus, Cic.: v. gloomy. 2. atrox, ōcis: stern, unrelenting: q. v. See also foll. art.