darkness

American  

[dahrk-nis] / ˈdɑrk nɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being dark.

   The room was in total darkness.

2. absence or deficiency of light.

   the darkness of night.

3. wickedness or evil.

   Satan, the prince of darkness.

4. obscurity; concealment.

   The darkness of the metaphor destroyed its effectiveness.

5. lack of knowledge or enlightenment.

   heathen darkness.

6. lack of sight; blindness.

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Other Word Forms

• predarkness noun

Etymology

Origin of darkness

First recorded before 1050; Middle English derknesse, Old English deorcnysse; equivalent to dark + -ness

Example Sentences

To avoid yet another night sitting in the darkness, she marked her birthday by strolling to the Paseo del Prado, an iconic boulevard not far from the waterfront cooled by a light sea breeze.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the show’s seven-season run, Brendon became a central figure, portraying the witty, insecure but dependable “everyman” in the gang’s battles against the forces of darkness.

From Los Angeles Times

“You’ve got to go through the darkness before you get to the light,” Coach Martins said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then in the darkness my hand closed over something hard.

From Literature

We longed with every moment to be out of the blazing suburbs and into the welcome darkness of the countryside.

From Literature

Related Words

• bleakness
• despair
• despondency
• dysphoria
• gloom
• grimness
• melancholy
• morbidity
• negativity