adjective / noun
dark
DAHRK/dɑːrk/
Having little or no light.
The hallway is dark because none of the lights work.
Etymology
Old English deorc already described a lack of light or brightness, especially at night. The selected meaning preserves that literal sense, alongside the ancestor’s broader associations with gloom.
In context
the black metal fragments felt heavy in my hand the dark patterns at the broken edges had completely died out reflecting no light
More examples
- We try to get home before dark.
- I can't find my shoes in the dark.
- The room gets darker when you close the curtains.
Forms
dark · darker · darkest
darkness noun — The absence or shortage of light.
darken verb — To become or make less light.
Similar words
- dim
- Suggests weak lighting rather than a complete absence of light.
- unlit
- Emphasizes that no lamp or other light source is on.