Dark

a. [compar. DARKER; superl. DARKEST.] [A-S. dearc, deorc. Cf. Gael. & Ir. dorch, dorcha, dark, black, dusky; perhaps allied to Per. tārīk, dark, cloudy, darkness.]

1Sense 1. Destitute of light; not reflecting or radiating light; wholly or partially black; not light-colored; obscure; as, a dark room; dark cloth or paint; a dark complexion; a dark day.

2Sense 2. Not clear to the understanding; not easily seen through; obscure; mysterious; concealed; hidden.

What may seem dark at the first, will afterward be found more plain. Hooker.

What is your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word? Shak.

3Sense 3. Destitute of knowledge and culture; unrefined; ignorant.

The age wherein he lived was dark, but he Could not want light who taught the world to see. Denham.

4Sense 4. Evincing black or foul traits of character; vile; wicked; as, a dark villain; a dark deed.

Left him at large to his own dark designs. Milton.

5Sense 5. Foreboding evil; gloomy; jealous; suspicious.

More dark and dark our woes. Shak.

A deep melancholy took possession of him, and gave a dark tinge to all his views of human nature and human destiny. Macaulay.

There is, in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity. W. Irving.

6Sense 6. Deprived of sight; blind. [Obs.]

He was, I think, at this time quite dark, and so had been for some years. Evelyn.

n. [See supra.] 1. The absence of light; darkness; obscurity. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out. Shak. 2. The condition of ignorance; secrecy; gloom. Look what you will, you do it still i’ th’ dark. Shak. Till we perceive by our own understandings, we are as much in the dark as before. Locke.