DARKNESS

darkness, duskiness, swarthiness

(noun) a swarthy complexion

darkness

(noun) having a dark or somber color

dark, darkness

(noun) an unenlightened state; ā€œhe was in the dark concerning their intentionsā€; ā€œhis lectures dispelled the darknessā€

darkness, dark, shadow

(noun) an unilluminated area; ā€œhe moved off into the darknessā€

dark, darkness

(noun) absence of light or illumination

wickedness, darkness, dark

(noun) absence of moral or spiritual values; ā€œthe powers of darknessā€

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

darkness (countable and uncountable, plural darknesses)

(uncountable) The state of being dark; lack of light.

(uncountable) Gloom.

(countable) The product of being dark.

(uncountable) The state or quality of reflecting little light, of tending to a blackish or brownish color.

(uncountable) Evilness, lack of understanding or compassion, reference to death or suffering.

Antonyms

• lightness

• light

Anagrams

• Danskers

Source: Wiktionary


Dark"ness, n.

1. The absence of light; blackness; obscurity; gloom. And darkness was upon the face of the deep. Gen. i. 2.

2. A state of privacy; secrecy. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light. Matt. x. 27.

3. A state of ignorance or error, especially on moral or religious subjects; hence, wickedness; impurity. Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John. iii. 19. Pursue these sons of darkness: drive them out From all heaven's bounds. Milton.

4. Want of clearness or perspicuity; obscurity; as, the darkness of a subject, or of a discussion.

5. A state of distress or trouble. A day of clouds and of thick darkness. Joel. ii. 2. Prince of darkness, the Devil; Satan. "In the power of the Prince of darkness." Locke.

Syn.

– Darkness, Dimness, Obscurity, Gloom. Darkness arises from a total, and dimness from a partial, want of light. A thing is obscure when so overclouded or covered as not to be easily perceived. As tha shade or obscurity increases, it deepens into gloom. What is dark is hidden from view; what is obscure is difficult to perceive or penetrate; the eye becomes dim with age; an impending storm fills the atmosphere with gloom. When taken figuratively, these words have a like use; as, the darkness of ignorance; dimness of discernment; obscurity of reasoning; gloom of superstition.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

25 December 2024

UNAMBIGUOUS

(adjective) having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; ā€œAs a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguousā€- Mario Vargas Llosa


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

coffee icon