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Webster 1913 Edition
Amphibology
Amˊphi-bol′o-gy
(ămˊfĭ-bō̍l′ō̍-jy̆)
, Noun.
pl.
Amphibologies
(-jĭz)
. [L.
amphibologia
, for amphibolia
, fr. Gr. ἀμφιβολία
, with the ending -logia
as if fr. Gr. ἀμφίβολοσ
ambiguous + λόγοσ
speech: cf. F. amphibologie
. See Amphiboly
.] A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.
Webster 1828 Edition
Amphibology
AMPHIBOL'OGY
,Noun.
A phrase or discourse, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, a phrase of uncertain meaning. Amphibology arises from the order of the phrase, rather than from the ambiguous meaning of a word which is called equivocation. We have an example in the answer of the oracle to Pyrrhus. 'Aio te Romanos vincere posse.' Here te and Romanos, may either of them precede or follow vincere posse, and the sense may be either, you may conquer the Romans, or the Romans may conquer you. The English language seldom admits of amphibology.
Definition 2024
amphibology
amphibology
English
Alternative forms
Noun
amphibology (plural amphibologies)
- (archaic) Amphiboly.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.133:
- In Athens men learn'd […] to resolve a sophisticall argument, and to confound the imposture and amphibologie of words, captiously enterlaced together […].
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.133: