DARKNESS • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Darkness

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/dˈɑrknəs/ Listen

noun

Darkness n.

1.

The absence of light; blackness; obscurity; gloom. "And darkness was upon the face of the deep."

2.

A state of privacy; secrecy. "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light."

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." "Pursue these sons of darkness: drive them out From all heaven's bounds."

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."

Prince of darkness, the Devil; Satan. "In the power of the Prince of darkness."

Synonyms: 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.

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Etymology of 'Darkness'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Darkness" Quotes from Famous Books

... which, even less than fifty years ago, men humbled themselves before the mystery which they had themselves created, of divine injustice. She must know, he said, his voice trembling with sincerity, that those who slighted the offers of grace were cast into outer darkness? ...

— The Voice • Margaret Deland

... being able to return the blows. He was going to die—he was sure of that—but a shameful death, unknown and inglorious. The ruins of his mansion were going to become his sepulchre. . . . And the certainty of dying there in the darkness, like a rat that sees the openings of his hole being closed up, made this ...

— The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse • Vicente Blasco Ibanez

... over the rolling plains into the darkness of the south, the boys were thrilled by a glow of excitement. Each had his rifle hanging in a gun-boat from his saddle. The mystery of the night; the fresh, keen stirring of the September air; the spirit of adventure; the easy, swinging motion of the horses—all these ...

— Injun and Whitey to the Rescue • William S. Hart

... and he sailed in, fighting manfully, sailor-fashion. Then the other two closed in behind young Somers. He was struck on the back of the head, and darkness came over him and he ...

— The Submarine Boys' Lightning Cruise - The Young Kings of the Deep • Victor G. Durham

... Captain Russell's safely. He camped that night with several men who planned to join Boone. In the darkness some Indians crept up and ...

— Daniel Boone - Taming the Wilds • Katharine E. Wilkie

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