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# unclear

adjective (unclear, more unclear, most unclear)

«unclear» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not easy to understand, see or hear; confusing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#m1)
2. Not known for sure: «It is unclear who won.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#m2)
3. (of a person) Not sure about something: «I'm unclear about the homework.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#m3)

### In the lessons

In school: unclear instructions, unclear handwriting, an unclear question in a test. In news and stories: «It is still unclear what happened» means nobody knows yet. In maths, if a problem is unclear, ask what is given and what is asked.

### Examples

- The instructions were unclear, so we asked the teacher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#x1)
- His handwriting is unclear; is that a 1 or a 7? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#x2)
- It is unclear whether the match will go ahead. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#x3)
- I'm unclear about what we have to do for homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#x4)
- The photo was unclear because the camera moved. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#x5)
- The cause of the fire is still unclear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/#x6)

### Note

Takes «an»: «an unclear answer». Often in «It is unclear whether/who/why …». Opposite: clear. Do not confuse with «unclean» (dirty).

## In Jewish tradition

In school: unclear instructions, unclear handwriting, an unclear question in a test. In news and stories: «It is still unclear what happened» means nobody knows yet. In maths, if a problem is unclear, ask what is given and what is asked.

### Examples

- It is unclear if the author or editor of this section is employing Hebrew terms in a novel way, is unfamiliar with human physiology, or is using animal organs to some symbolic effect, or some combination thereof. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unclear/#x1)
- It derives from the root נפ״שׁ NPSh, having to do with breathing, refreshing, and resting; its etymological relationships with curiously similar roots like נשׁ״ם NShM ‘to breathe, pant’, נשׁ״ף NShP ‘to blow’, and נשׁ״ב NShB ‘to blow’ are unclear. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unclear/#x2)
- Another association between language, mouth, and genitals, though the connection (if any) with the SY is unclear, is found in the idiom עָרְלַת שְׂפָתַיִם ʽorlat sefatayim ‘uncircumcised of lips’, probably meaning one who is unskilled in speech, e.g. \[Exodus 6:12\]. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unclear/#x3)

### Note

Takes «an»: «an unclear answer». Often in «It is unclear whether/who/why …». Opposite: clear. Do not confuse with «unclean» (dirty).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unclear» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unclear/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unclear» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unclear.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «unclear» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unclear/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unclear» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/unclear.html) on Mova free.