obscurar

Obscurar is a verb found in Romance languages, most commonly in Spanish and Portuguese, with the general meaning to obscure, to render something unclear, or to darken or veil. It can be used for both physical and figurative obstruction, for example obscuring a vision or obscuring the truth. In many contexts, more common alternatives exist, depending on dialect.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin obscurare, from obscurus 'dark, obscure.' The sense of making dark or hidden is carried into the Romance languages, where it has yielded related forms in various dialects and registers.

Usage and distribution: In contemporary Spanish and Portuguese, obscurar is relatively infrequent; speakers often prefer obscurecer or oscurecer. In regional dialects or historical texts, obscurar appears more readily. In scholarly writing, obscurar may be discussed as a historical form or as a Latin loanword, particularly in linguistic or philological contexts.

See also: obscurity, obscuration, obfuscation.