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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.

Definition 2024


doubtful

doubtful

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

doubtful (comparative more doubtful, superlative most doubtful)

  1. Subject to, or causing doubt.
  2. Experiencing or showing doubt, sceptical.
  3. Undecided or of uncertain outcome.
  4. (obsolete) Fearsome, dreadful.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, Bk.XIV, Ch.vii:
      ‘With whom,’ seyde Sir Percivale, ‘shall I fyght?’ ‘With the moste douteful champion of the worlde [].’
  5. Improbable or unlikely.
  6. Suspicious, or of dubious character.
  7. Unclear or unreliable.
    • 1922, E.R. Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros:
      The pupils of her great eyes were large in the doubtful lamplight, swallowing their green fires in deep pools of mystery and darkness.

Translations

Noun

doubtful (plural doubtfuls)

  1. A doubtful person or thing.
    • 1976, Kenneth Gibbons, ‎Donald Cameron Rowat, Political Corruption in Canada: Cases, Causes and Cures (page 45)
      They had their lists of Liberals and of the doubtfuls who still remained doubtful. As the election drew near, the force of the whole organization was turned upon these unrepentant doubtfuls.