Word of the Moment: obfuscate
This is especially for Sally in Norfolk, who I, some might say deliberately, confused with long words in my previous Word of the Moment post. So, in an attempt to clarify things for Sally, the current word of the moment is obfuscate 
If you want to know what this means, imagine Jim Hacker has asked Sir Humphrey a question in Yes, (Prime) Minister. Sir Humphrey will launch into one of his speeches that leaves Hacker floundering as to what Sir Humphrey is on about. Some might say Sir Humphrey is master of obfuscation.
The OED Online has this to say on the matter:
1. trans. To cast into darkness or shadow; to cloud, obscure.
2. trans.
a. To dim (the sight). rare.
b. To confuse, bewilder, or stupefy (a person or his or her faculties); (also) (U.S. slang) to befuddle with alcohol, render drunk (cf. OBFUSCATED adj. 2) (now rare).
3. a. trans. Of a person: to make (a subject, etc.) unclear, obscure, confused, or difficult to understand.
b. intr. To render something unclear, obscure, or confused; to use obscure or impenetrable language.
It seems Sir Humphrey actually had some work to do to become master of obfuscation: as far as I am aware, he never dimmed the sight of anyone. I’ll let him off with the US slang meaning: he is (was) so quintessentially English, after all.
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categories: Language and Linguistics
tags: words
series: Word of the moment
last modified: 21st Oct 2011
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I love the quote “Eschew Obfuscation”.
My other favourite is, “Never use a big word where a diminutive one will suffice.”
1 said Phill (21st August 2009 at 10.03 am BST)
An expansion of your first quote is “eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation” just to make matters worse.
2 said Pandammonium (21st August 2009 at 10.53 am BST)