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oscuro

dark, obscure

adjective oh-SKOO-roh Less Common

Origin: Latin 'obscurus' (dark, hidden).

Also means

gloomy, unclear

Usage Note

Oscuro can describe literal darkness (una stanza oscura = a dark room) and figurative opacity (un testo oscuro = an obscure text, origini oscure = murky origins). Tenere all'oscuro (to keep in the dark) is an idiomatic phrase meaning to keep someone uninformed. The verb oscurare means to darken or to censor/black out.

Examples

"Camminavano in un vicolo oscuro."

Natural Translation

They were walking down a dark alley.

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