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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Obscur(e, Obscuir(e, a. Also: obscwir, -skure, -skuir, -scoir. [ME. (c 1400) and e.m.E. obscure, OF. obscur (14th c.), L. obscūr-us.] Obscure.

1. Devoid of light or brightness, dark, dim.(a) 1456 Hay I. 24/15.
The thrid part of the sonne was obscure and mirk a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1058.
In till a cloude obscure 1490 Irland Mir. II. 79/26.
Quhen we ar heir in the erd … our body is obscur bot in hevin … it salbe bricht and inmortale c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi. 68.
Palice of licht or pitt obscure 1513 Doug. xi. x. 86.
Skowgis darn and full obscur 1533 Bell. Livy I. 280/17. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 38/16. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1839.(b) 1535 Stewart 43589.
Obscuir 1562-3 Winȝet I. 57/12. 1596 Dalr. I. 24/11.

2. fig. a. Difficult to understand, unclear, vague, equivocal.(a) 1473 Acts II. 105/1.
For the declaracion of diuers obscur materis that ar now in our lawis 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 312.
And thus … My werk is mair obscur and gros per de 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 34.
Gif thair be ony terme doutsum or obscur in the premissis c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii. 894.
All obscure probleme c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 38.
This is most plane and nocht obscure 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 158/2.
Ȝour … ressoning apperis to me to be sumpart obscure and difficle 1596 Dalr. I. 116/22.
Thay … quhais beginning being obskure or nocht perfytlie and cleir anuich notified to al men throuch thair industrie(b) c 1500 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 172.
It is als obscoir to the wrettar 1551 Hamilton Catechism 46.
The interpretation … of difficil and obscuire placis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 57/11.
Nocht adhering to the priuate iugement or obscuir sayngis of ony ane man 1562-3 Ib. II. 15/16. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 30.
Obscwir a1605 Montg. Flyt. 106 (T). 1596 Dalr. I. 341/8.
His forspeikings … war in ryme and sik obskuir verce, sa … rowet vp in allegories [etc.] a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 60.

b. Hidden from knowledge, concealed. a1500 Henr. III. 162/2.
O eterne God … To quhois [hie] knawlege na think is obscure 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 171/13.
There is nay thing obscure fra hym

3. Unknown to fame, undistinguished. a. Of persons or their origins: Lowly, mean. Also absol. as noun. b. Of institutions.a. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 339.
Limmaris of vile and obscure lignage 1533 Boece i. vii. 48 b.
Of obscure and incertane origine 1562-3 Winȝet I. 50/35.
That sa obscuir men durst presume to medle thame aganis all auctoritie 1596 Dalr. I. 292/6.
Fyue hundir, nocht of the maist obskuir and simple sorteabsol. a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xcv. 4.
O deith … Obscuir and noble quhy haldis thow of ane sect?b. 1596 Dalr. I. 16/22.
Ane academie nocht obscure nathir infrequent 1596 Ib. 24/25.
The ile of S. Colme quhair is a monaster of the same name, nocht obskure

4. Of places: Remote from observation, retired, secret. 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I. 533.
[She] placit him in ane obscuir and narrow rowme 1616 Macritchie Gypsies 95.
The theivis … haveing … [dis]persit thame selfis in certane derne and obscure placeis

5. Predicatively, of persons or things: Out of observation, hidden, concealed. 1599 Acts Sederunt i. 30.
Dyverse privat wryttis … being keipit obscuir 1614 Highland P. III. 141.
Thay … keeped thame selues obscure whill the yettis wer oppined 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS. 24 Sept.
That scho held hir obscure thairin quhill scho micht haiff gottin opportunitie to ryde … to the town 1625 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II. 7 Sept.
The minister … had accusit hir wpon Androw Fraseris being obscuir in hir hous 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II. 96. 1650 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 40. c1650 Spalding II. 468.
We had no certainty quhair he went, he wes so obscure