ppl. a. [f. CLOUD v. + -ED.]
1. Covered, surrounded, or obscured, by clouds; situated in the clouds.
1599. Bp. Hall, Sat., Defiance to Envie, 64. And vainly faint in hopelesse following The clouded paths her native drosse denies.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 41. A clouded setting.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 607. The Moon Rising in clouded Majestie.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, V. xxxvii. The clouded heaven lowered bloody red.
2. a. Having cloud-like markings. Clouded Yellow Butterfly: a butterfly of the genus Colias, esp. C. Edusa.
1682. Lond. Gaz., No. 1685/4. A mix’d Stuff Suit, and clouded Stockings.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, IV. 124. The nice conduct of a clouded cane. Ibid. (1725), Odyss., V. 302. The handle … Wrought of the clouded olive’s easy grain.
1796. Hull Advertiser, 5 March, 2/2. A lot of Clouded Silks.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., II. Wks. 1834, II. 187. And thus with clouded cane, a fop complete He stalked.
1827. Butterfly Collectors Vade mec., 90–1. Colias Helice, White Clouded Yellow. Colias Hyale, Pale Clouded Yellow.
b. Of transparent bodies: Having patches of dimness or obscurity, dimmed (cf. sb. 6 a).
1693. Redding, in Phil. Trans., XVII. 659/2. I have sent you … a few of the Pearls, though clouded and little worth.
1799. G. Smith, Labor., I. 382. Stir it well … to prevent its being clouded.
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib., III. xii. (1888), 374. Through clouded spectacles.
3. fig. Of the mind: Darkened or obscured (by ignorance, etc.). Of ideas or perception: Obscure, dim, indistinct; mystical.
a. 1628. J. Preston, Serm. bef. his Maj. (1630), 2. No ground in scripture for their clouded … opinions.
1783. Mason, Du Fresnoy’s Art Painting, lviii. (R.). No beauty beaming on his clouded mind.
1819. Wordsw., Waggoner, III. 12. Benjamin, with clouded brains.
b. Involved in obscurity.
1641. Milton, Ch. Discip., I. (1851), 29. There be … some places in those Books that remain clouded.
1762. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus. (1763), 92. This … hath opened to us an involved and clouded Subject.
4. fig. Darkened with any passion or trouble; gloomy.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, III. 176. Clouded courage once again shone clear.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XVI. 361. With clouded looks, a pale assembly sate.
1866. Mrs. Stowe, Little Foxes, 119. She sits with a clouded brow.
