dɑ:k adj. & n. --adj. 1
with little or no
light. 2 of a
deep or
sombre colour. 3 (of a person) with deep
brown or
black hair,
complexion, or
skin. 4
gloomy, depressing,
dismal (dark thoughts). 5
evil,
sinister (dark deeds). 6
sullen,
angry (a dark mood). 7
remote,
secret,
mysterious, little-known (the dark
and distant past;
keep it dark). 8
ignorant,
unenlightened. --n. 1
absence of light. 2
nightfall (don't go
out after dark). 3 a
lack of
knowledge. 4 a dark
area or colour,
esp. in
painting (the
skilled use of
lights and darks). øthe Dark Ages (or Age) 1
the period of
European history preceding the
Middle Ages, esp. the 5th-10th c. 2
any period of supposed unenlightenment. the Dark Continent a
name for Africa, esp.
when little
known to Europeans. dark glasses
spectacles with dark-tinted lenses. dark
horse a little-known
person who is unexpectedly
successful or
prominent. dark
star an
invisible star known to
exist from reception of
physical data other than light. in the dark
lacking information. øødarkish adj. darkly adv. darkness n. darksome
poet. adj. [OE deorc prob. f. Gmc]
