01/17/10

Vocabulary Builder

obfuscate

Main Entry: ob·fus·cate
Pronunciation: \äb-fus-kāt; äb-fus-kāt\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): ob·fus·cat·ed; ob·fus·cat·ing
Etymology: Late Latin obfuscatus, past participle of obfuscare, from Latin ob- in the way + fuscus dark brown — more at ob-, dusk
Date: 1577

transitive verb
1 a : darken b : to make obscure <obfuscate the issue>
2 : confuse <obfuscate the reader>
intransitive verb
: to be evasive, unclear, or confusing

— ob·fus·ca·tion \äb-fus-kā-shun\ noun

— ob·fus·ca·to·ry \äb-fus-ka-tor-ē\ adjective

"It behooves one to eschew obfuscation."

All that is needed for the forces of evil to succeed is the failure of good men to ridicule them.