Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ambiguous
Am-big′u-ous
,Adj.
[L.
ambiguus
, fr. ambigere
to wander about, waver; amb-
+ agere
to drive.] Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal;
as, an
ambiguous
course; an ambiguous
expression.What have been thy answers? What but dark,
Ambiguous
, and with double sense deluding? Milton.
Syn. – Doubtful; dubious; uncertain; unsettled; indistinct; indeterminate; indefinite. See
Equivocal
. Webster 1828 Edition
Ambiguous
AMBIG'UOUS
,Adj.
Having two or more meanings; doubtful; being of uncertain signification; susceptible of different interpretations; hence, obscure. It is applied to words and expressions; not to a dubious state of mind, though it may be to a person using words of doubtful signification.
The ancient oracles were ambiguous, as were their answers.
Definition 2024
ambiguous
ambiguous
English
Adjective
ambiguous (comparative more ambiguous, superlative most ambiguous)
- Open to multiple interpretations.
- The politician was criticized for his ambiguous statements and lack of precision.
- Vague and unclear.
- He gave an ambiguous answer.
- (obsolete, of persons) Hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.
- 1662 Thomas Salusbury
- And forasmuch as in this same question I am ambiguous, and Simplicius is resolute....
- 1662 Thomas Salusbury
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related terms
Translations
open to multiple interpretations
|
|
vague and unclear
See also
External links
- ambiguous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- ambiguous in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
References
- J[ohn] A. Simpson and E[dward] S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ISBN 978-0-19-861186-8.