† oˈffuscant Obs.
[ad. L. offuscānt-em, pr. pple. of offuscāre to darken (see next); or ad. corresp. F. offusquant.]
One who obfuscates or obscures; one who opposes enlightenment, an obscurantist.
| 1799 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. XXIX. 180 The offuscants (as they [the ‘Illuminés’] affected to call the teachers of vulgar credulity). 1806 ― in Ann. Rev. IV. 722 They are systematic offuscants; not reasoners, but mystics. |