a. Obs. [ad. L. subobscūrus: see SUB- 20 and OBSCURE.] Somewhat obscure.

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1626.  Donne, Serm., lxxvii. (1640), 786. In those sub-obscure times, S. Augustine might be excusable [etc.].

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1629.  H. Burton, Truth’s Tri., 219. Such vmbratilous and sub-obscure termes.

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  Hence † Subobscurely adv., somewhat obscurely.

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a. 1615.  Donne, Ess. (1651), 97. As these men were instruments of this work of God, so their names did sub-obscurely foresignifie it. Ibid. (1624), Devot. (ed. 2), 207. The booke of Nature, where though subobscurely … thou hast expressed thine own Image.

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