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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.
[Gr. speech.]
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)

  1. (archaic) Amphiboly.