murk

¹ American  

[murk] / mɜrk /

Or mirk

noun

1. darkness; gloom.

   the murk of a foggy night.

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adjective

1. Archaic. dark; murky.

murk ² American  

[murk] / mɜrk /

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. a variant of merk.

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murk ¹ British  

/ mɜːk /

noun

1. gloomy darkness

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adjective

1. an archaic variant of murky

murk ² British  

/ mɜːk /

verb

1. to murder (a person)

2. to defeat (a team) convincingly

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Etymology

Origin of murk¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mirke, myrke, from Old Norse myrkr “dark, darkness,” replacing Old English myrce “dark”

Origin of murk²

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

In the dark waters off the west coast of Scotland, a slender submarine glider, like a torpedo with wings, slips under the surface and quickly disappears off into the murk.

From BBC

Nine Inch Nails thrive in the murk of base instinct and dread.

From Los Angeles Times

Nine Inch Nails thrive in the murk of base human instinct and tech-driven dread.

From Los Angeles Times

It lies waiting to slide into the murk of Echo Park lake, waiting for the cameras to roll.

From Los Angeles Times

Holmes’ willingness to stare into the murk to pull out the truth makes him an uncommon hero and an effective instrument of justice, rare and necessary qualities in a society corrupted by fear.

From Salon