obscure rays

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Obscure \Ob*scure"\ ([o^]b*sk[=u]r"), a. [Compar. Obscurer ([o^]b*sk[=u]r"[~e]r); superl. Obscurest.] [L. obscurus, orig., covered; ob- (see Ob-) + a root probably meaning, to cover; cf. L. scutum shield, Skr. sku to cover: cf. F. obscur. Cf. Sky.] [1913 Webster]

1.Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim. [1913 Webster]

His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.— Prov. xx. 20.[1913 Webster]

2.Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from observation; unnoticed. [1913 Webster]

The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

The obscure corners of the earth.— Sir J. Davies.[1913 Webster]

3.Not noticeable; humble; mean. "O base and obscure vulgar." --Shak. "An obscure person." --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]

4.Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or incomprehensible; as, an obscure passage or inscription. [1913 Webster]

5.Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects. [1913 Webster]

Obscure rays (Opt.), those rays which are not luminous or visible, and which in the spectrum are beyond the limits of the visible portion. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Dark; dim; darksome; dusky; shadowy; misty; abstruse; intricate; difficult; mysterious; retired; unnoticed; unknown; humble; mean; indistinct. [1913 Webster]