Unclear

a. [UN-¹ 7. Cf. WFris. ûn-, onklear (at variance), MDu. onclaer (oncleer), Du. onklaar, MLG. unklâr, G. unklar, ON. úklárr (Norw. uklaar, Da. uklar, Sw. oklar).]

  1.  Not clear or distinct; not easy to understand; obscure, dark.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 307. I calde & þou knew myn vncler steuen.

a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl., XVI. 279. But my might in this manere Will I not proue,… my cause unclear Were then, in good fay.

a. 1513.  Fabyan, Chron., 2. Ryght mysty storyes, doughtfull and vnclere.

1611.  Tourneur, Ath. Trag., IV. iii. The time, the place, All circumstances argue that uncleare.

1678.  Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., II. xxix. § ii. (1699), 277. It were very hard upon testimonies, that have so unclear a causa scientiæ…, to take a way a mans life.

1798.  Monthly Mag., VI. 99. The mythological allusions in the 10th, 11th and 12th verses are unclear.

1828.  Pusey, Hist. Enq., I. p. xiv. To fix the stamp of misconception upon everything else which is unclear in the work.

1884.  Ld. Coleridge, in Law Times Rep., L. 297/2. That these otherwise clear and plain words are made doubtful and unclear by the 3rd clause of this section.

  b.  Not clear in understanding, perception, or statement; confused.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 27. A philosophre … Had a frend that somwhat was aged, In suche tymes as wyttes wex uncler.

1734.  Ld. Hervey, Mem. Geo. II. (1848), I. 324. From having a most unclear head … he was absolutely useless to his brother.

1828.  Pusey, Hist. Enq., I. 142. The unsystematic and unclear mind of his disciple.

1885.  Century Mag., XXXI. 276. So unclear in their statements that we can make nothing of them.

  c.  Of persons: Uncertain, doubtful (about something).

1671.  [R. MacWard], True Nonconf., 172. If you be still unclear, answere this demand with your self in sobriety.

1715.  Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 94. The whole brethren present seemed very unclear as to the abjuration.

1886.  Sir J. Paget, Lett., 7 Aug., in Mem., vi. 362. I am unclear as to their [sc. certain patients’] names.

  2.  Not clear of, not free from, fault or blame.

a. 1400.  Pistill of Susan, 305. Nou schal þi concience be knowen, þat euer was vnclere.

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 13. Thai are the lanternys of lyf … Bot thai be caȝt with covetyse with conscions unclere.

1607.  Tourneur, Rev. Trag., II. D iv b. I haue great sins; I must haue daies … To lift ’em out, and not to die vncleere.

  3.  Not clear or bright; dark, thick.

c. 1400.  Anturs of Arth., x. Al glowed as a glede þe gosto þere ho glides, Vmbeclipped him with a cloude, of cle[th]yng vnclere.

1527.  Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, B ij. Lyquor or sape, which ye wyl puryfye from all trowblous and unclere substaunces.

1535.  Coverdale, Esther, xi. 8. Ye same daye was full of darcknes & very vncleare, full of trouble & anguysh.

1594.  Carew, Tasso (1881), 80. Sometimes the Sun shines through white cloud vncleere.

  fig.  c. 1440.  Capgrave, Life St. Kath., V. 1207. Fro al onclennesse Of lust and filthe, and fro that loue on-clere Whiche þei calle letcherie.

1639.  G. Daniel, Ecclus. xvii. 80. Those Horrid Crimes of Mortalls Shall appeare Vgly and Monstrous, vile, deform’d, vncleare.