WORD DAILY Word of the Day: OBNUBILATE

Obnubilate


äbˈno͞obəˌlāt

verb

Darken, dim, or cover with or as if with a cloud; obscure.

Example Sentences

“Cory refused to allow the sudden downpour to obnubilate his good mood.”

“The car window’s dark tint obnubilated any view of who was inside.”

“I’ll bring my big beach umbrella to keep us obnubilated all day.”

Word Origin

Latin, late 16th century

Why this word?

The power of clouds to obnubilate, both figuratively and literally, is a popular concept in music, especially from folk singer Joni Mitchell. In “Both Sides Now,” she croons, “I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now / From up and down and still somehow / It’s cloud’s illusions I recall / I really don’t know clouds at all.” This word comes directly from the Latin “obnubilat,” which means “covered with clouds or fog.”