Crossword Genius

Unilluminated vessel on Dee (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dark

'unilluminated' is the definition.
('dark' can be similar in meaning to 'unilluminated')

'vessel on dee' is the wordplay.
'vessel' becomes 'ark' (ark is a kind of vessel**).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'dee' becomes 'd'.
'ark' put after 'd' is 'DARK'.

(Other definitions for dark that I've seen before include "lacking lights" , "Opposite of light" , "Shade of Oxford blue" , "Black, perhaps - night" , "Closed as theatre" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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