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Not strict or stringent; not exact; loose; weak; vague; equivocal. The discipline was lax. Macaulay. Society at that epoch was lenient, if not lax, in matters of the passions. J. A. Symonds. The word "æternus" itself is sometimes of a lax signification. Jortin.

Signifying many different things; of manifold meaning; equivocal. "An ambiguous multivocal word." Coleridge. -- n.

The use of equivocal or ambiguous words. [R.]

te limitations; exactly or sharply defined or stated; definite; exact; nice; not vague or equivocal; as, precise rules of morality. The law in this point is not precise. Bacon. For the hour precise Exacts our parting hence. Milton.

Strongly marked; unequivocal; decided.

The art of predicting events after the manner of the priestess of Apollo at Delphi; equivocal prophesying.

Of or pertaining to shade or darkness; hence, unfit to be seen or known; equivocal; dubious or corrupt. [Colloq.] "A shady business." London Sat. Rev. Shady characters, disreputable, criminal. London Spectator. On the shady side of, on the thither side of; as, on the shady side of fifty; that is, more than fifty. [Coll…

Questionable; equivocal; indefinite; problematical. "The fashion of uncertain evils." Milton. From certain dangers to uncertain praise. Dryden.

Having one meaning only; -- contrasted with equivocal.

In a univocal manner; in one term; in one sense; not equivocally. How is sin univocally distinguished into venial and mortal, if the venial be not sin Bp. Hall.