A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1598
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Obscurite(e, -ie, n. [ME. obscuretee (Trevisa), e.m.E. obscuritie, -y, etc., F. obscurité (1305 in Hatz.-Darm.), L. obscūritas.] Darkness, lit. and fig.; obscurity of meaning, lack of clarity, vagueness; an obscure or difficult passage or point. —(1) 1456 Hay I. 25/14.
All in divisioun and in obscuritee of scisme and of weris 1456 Ib. 163/21.
For God reprovis all dedis done in myrknes and obscuritee, na with dissait 1490 Irland Mir. I. 40/1.
The licht of the haly spreit … puttis away all obscurite and myrknes out of oure consciens —(2) 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 44.
In subtel wordis of obscurite Involupand the trewth 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 146/5.
The langsumnes baith of richtis & processis breidis thaire unsure lousenes & obscuritie —(3) 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 15 1/20.
To tak ordour towart the trew vndirstanding of the obscuriteis and misteriis of Goddis worde
