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One who doubts; one whose opinion is unsettled; one who scruples.

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. Shak. With doubtful feet an…

Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or fluctuating; undetermined. "Dubious policy." Sir T. Scott. A dubious, agitated state of mind. Thackeray.

Selecting; choosing (what is true or excellent in doctrines, opinions, etc.) from various sources or systems; as, an eclectic philosopher.

ed their practice on experience called themselves empirics. Krauth-Fleming. Swallow down opinions as silly people do empirics' pills. Locke.

enom; to imbitter. The envenomed tongue of calumny. Smollett. On the question of slavery opinion has of late years been peculiarly envenomed. Sir G. C. Lewis.

To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity. All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate…

To miss intellectual truth; to fall into error; to mistake in judgment or opinion; to be mistaken. The man may err in his judgment of circumstances. Tillotson.

Deviating from a wise of the common course in opinion or conduct; eccentric; strange; queer; as, erratic conduct.

ed to truth or justice; incorrect; false; mistaken; as, an erroneous doctrine; erroneous opinion, observation, deduction, view, etc. -- Er*ro"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Er*ro"ne*ous*ness, n.

A departing or deviation from the truth; falsity; false notion; wrong opinion; mistake; misapprehension. Herror, though his candor remained unimpaired. Bancroft.

f; to prove and cause to be accepted as true; as, to establish a fact, usage, principle, opinion, doctrine, etc. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. Deut. xix. 15.

Estimation; opinion of merit or value; hence, valuation; reckoning; price. Most dear in the esteem And poor in worth! Shak. I will deliver you, in ready coin, The full and dear'st esteem of what you crave. J. Webster.

Worth of esteem or respect; deserving our good opinion or regard. A lady said of her two companions, that one was more amiable, the other more estimable. Sir W. Temple.

To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data, -- either the extrinsic (money), or intrinsic (moral), value; to fix the worth of roughly or in a general way; as, to estimate the value of goods or land; to estimate the worth or talents of a person. It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of t…

An opinion or judgment of the worth, extent, or quantity of anything, formed without using precise data; valuation; as, estimations of distance, magnitude, amount, or moral qualities. If he be poorer that thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest, and the priest shall value him. Le…

Esteem; opinion; reputation. [Obs.] Steele.

of anything good to come, esp. of c or rank. His magnificent expiations made him, in the opinion of the world, the best much in Europe. Prescott. By all men's eyes a youth of expectations. Otway.

One who rejects an opinion or scheme with open contempt. South.

lue or usefulness out of; as, to exploit a mine or agricultural lands; to exploit public opinion. [Recent]