Darkness Meaning
/ˈdɑːknəs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state of being dark; lack of light; the absolute or comparative absence of light.
nounThe state or quality of reflecting little light, of tending to a blackish or brownish color.
Sentence Examples
We advanced under cover of darkness.
Our eyes take time to adjust to the darkness.
After a few minutes our eyes got used to the darkness.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Complete ____ covered the forest after the sun set.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We advanced under cover of ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English derknesse, from Old English deorcnes; equivalent to dark + -ness.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Over everything was darkness and thick silence, and the smell of dust and sunflowers."
— 1912, Willa Cather, The Bohemian Girl:
"Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear."
— 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 1:
"Darkness imprisoning me / All that I see / Absolute horror / I cannot live / I cannot die / Trapped in myself / Body my holding cell"
— 1989, “One”, performed by Metallica:
"And now, the prophecy. One will come, the voice from the outer world, bringing the holy war, the jihad, which will cleanse the universe and bring us out of darkness."
— 1984, 41:18 from the start, in Dune (Science Fiction), spoken by Reverend Mother Ramallo, →OCLC:
"It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind - as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness."
— 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 195:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Complete ____ covered the forest after the sun set.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We advanced under cover of ____.