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Webster 1913 Edition

Doubtful

Doubt′ful

,
Adj.
1.
Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating in belief; also used, metaphorically, of the body when its action is affected by such a state of mind;
as, we are
doubtful
of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure
.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man;
Yet I am
doubtful
.
Shakespeare
With
doubtful
feet and wavering resolution.
Milton.
2.
Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named;
as, a
doubtful
case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like
.
Beauty is but a vain and
doubtful
good.
Shakespeare
Is it a great cruelty to expel from our abode the enemy of our peace, or even the
doubtful
friend [i. e., one as to whose sincerity there may be doubts]?
Bancroft.
3.
Characterized by ambiguity; dubious;
as, a
doubtful
expression; a
doubtful
phrase.
4.
Of uncertain issue or event.
We . . . have sustained one day in
doubtful
fight.
Milton.
The strife between the two principles had been long, fierce, and
doubtful
.
Macaulay.
5.
Fearful; apprehensive; suspicious.
[Obs.]
Syn. – Wavering; vacillating; hesitating; undetermined; distrustful; dubious; uncertain; equivocal; ambiguous; problematical; questionable.

Webster 1828 Edition

Doubtful

DOUBTFUL

,
Adj.
1.
Dubious; not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating; applied to persons; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure.
2.
Dubious; ambiguous; not clear in its meaning; as a doubtful expression.
3.
Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear or certain; questionable; not decided; as a doubtful case; a doubtful proposition; it is doubtful what will be the event of the war.
4.
Of uncertain issue.
We have sustained one day in doubtful fight.
5.
Not secure; suspicious; as, we cast a doubtful eye.
6.
Not confident; not without fear; indicating doubt.
With doubtful feet, and wavering resolution.
7.
Not certain or defined; as a doubtful hue.

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