obscurity
UK: əbˈskjʊərəti | US: əbˈskjʊrəti
n. the state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or difficult to understand
n. lack of clarity or visibility; darkness
The word "obscurity" originates from the Latin obscurus (dark, hidden), combining ob- (over, against) and scurus (covered). The suffix -ity (from Latin -itas) forms abstract nouns indicating a state or condition. Over time, "obscurity" evolved to metaphorically describe both physical darkness and intellectual ambiguity, reflecting its dual roots in literal and figurative concealment.
The poet lived in obscurity until his work was rediscovered decades later.
The room was plunged into obscurity when the lights went out.
Legal jargon often adds unnecessary obscurity to contracts.
Many ancient texts remain in obscurity due to untranslated languages.
The fog reduced the landscape to near obscurity.