obscurant

adjective

ob·​scur·​ant äb-ˈskyu̇r-ənt How to pronounce obscurant (audio)
əb-
variants or obscurantic
: tending to make obscure
obscurant language
obscurant noun

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French (earlier as noun), borrowed from Latin obscūrant-, obscūrans, present participle of obscūrāre "to darken, eclipse, conceal from knowledge" — more at obscure entry 2

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obscurant was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near obscurant

Cite this Entry

“Obscurant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscurant. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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