darkling
Americanadverb
adjective
-
growing dark.
-
being or occurring in the dark; dark; obscure.
-
vaguely threatening or menacing.
adverb
adjective
Etymology
Origin of darkling
First recorded in 1400–50, darkling is from the late Middle English word derkeling. See dark, -ling 2
Vocabulary lists containing darkling
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They included a number of vivid green and pinkish-orange darkling beetles from China and Laos, and four long-snouted weevils from South Africa.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2023
For them, our species stands before a darkling plain that is at once its birthright and its destiny: the universe itself.
From Slate ● Jan. 26, 2023
Enter a species of darkling beetle larvae known as Zophobas morio.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2022
Across the United States this autumn, exhibitions and collection displays of historical treasures promise to elucidate our own darkling age.
From New York Times ● Sep. 14, 2021
His face was long, with a high forehead, he had deep darkling eyes, hard to fathom, though the look that they now bore was grave and benevolent, and a little weary.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
