murk

¹

or mirk

[ murk ]

noun

1. darkness; gloom:

   the murk of a foggy night.

adjective

1. Archaic. dark; murky.

murk

²

[ murk ]

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. a variant of merk ¹( def ).

murk

¹

/ mɜːk /

noun

1. gloomy darkness

adjective

1. an archaic variant of murky

murk

²

/ mɜːk /

verb

1. to murder (a person)
2. to defeat (a team) convincingly

Word History and Origins

Origin of murk¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mirke, myrke, from Old Norse myrkr “dark, darkness,” replacing Old English myrce “dark”

Origin of murk²

First recorded in 2005–10

Word History and Origins

Origin of murk¹

C13: probably from Old Norse myrkr darkness; compare Old English mirce dark

Origin of murk²

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

And then he hung up, left the station to vanish into the murk of the rain swept night.

From Project Gutenberg

"I owe you no grudge, gentle Franks," quoth the dwarf, as they pushed back the door of a cell that was all dust and murk.

From Project Gutenberg

Through the haze and murk Peter Gross saw black eyes that flamed with hate, foaming lips, and passion-distorted faces.

From Project Gutenberg

But the sight of a lion emerging from the murk, the wrong side of the crevice, roused him thoroughly.

From Project Gutenberg

They were close upon it before they saw it through the rain and murk.

From Project Gutenberg