English Explanatory Dictionary

darkness

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The state of being dark; lack of light; the absolute or comparative absence of light.
  2. The state or quality of reflecting little light, of tending to a blackish or brownish color.
  3. Any space that such colour pervades.
  4. Gloom; gloominess; depression.
  5. The product of being dark.
  6. Lack of understanding or compassion; spiritual or mental blindness.
  7. Secrecy; concealment.
  8. Lack of knowledge; obscurity or meaning or intelligibility; the unknown.
  9. Nothingness, vanity, emptiness.
  10. Hell.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɑːknəs/ /ˈdɑɹknəs/ En-us-darkness.ogg

Word forms

darkness darknesses darckness darkeness darknesse darkenesse

Etymology

From Middle English derknesse, from Old English deorcnes; equivalent to dark + -ness.

Synonyms

dark

Antonyms

lightness light

Derived words

act of darkness better to light a candle than to curse the darkness better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness better to light one candle than to curse the darkness better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness crater of eternal darkness Egyptian darkness nymph of darkness pitch darkness predarkness semi-darkness semidarkness under cover of darkness virtual darkness
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