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So named; called by such a name (but perhaps called thus with doubtful propriety).

of progress or of action; cessation; repression; interruption; check; obstruction. It is doubtful . . . whether it contributed anything to the stop of the infection. De Foe. Occult qualities put a stop to the improvement of natural philosophy. Sir I. Newton. It is a great step toward the mastery of our desires to give…

(probably the glands of Lieberkühn) of the small intestines. Its exact action is somewhat doubtful.

Tending to suspend, or to keep in suspense; causing interruption or delay; uncertain; doubtful. "In suspensive thoughts." Beaumont. "A suspensive veto." Macaulay. The provisional and suspensive attitude. J. Morley. Suspensive condition (Scots Law), a condition precedent, or a condition without the performance of which…

," quod she. Chaucer. I thank thee for thine honest care. Shak. Weigh the danger with the doubtful bliss, And thank yourself if aught should fall amiss. Dryden.

or permit negatively, by not preventing; not to restrain; to put up with; as, to tolerate doubtful practices. Crying should not be tolerated in children. Locke. We tolerate them because property and liberty, to a degree, require that toleration. Burke.

Full of trouble; causing trouble. "In doubtful time of troublous need." Byron. A tall ship tossed in troublous seas. Spenser.

turn the scale or balance, to change the preponderance; to decide or determine something doubtful. -- To turn the stomach of, to nauseate; to sicken. -- To turn the tables, to reverse the chances or conditions of success or superiority; to give the advantage to the person or side previously at a disadvantage. -- To…

Not equivocal; not doubtful; not ambiguous; evident; sincere; plain; as, unequivocal evidence; unequivocal words. -- Un`e*quiv"o*cal*ly, adv. -- Un`e*quiv"o*cal*ness, n.

of a mold; a volcanic vent. Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents. Shak. Long't was doubtful, both so closely pent, Which first should issue from the narrow vent. Pope.

A word of doubtful meaning used once by Shakespeare. This [gold] is it That makes the wappen'd widow wed again.

or confirmed; vacillating; wavering. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Rom. xiv. 1.

Doubtful; uncertain. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. -- Will"some*ness, n. [Obs.]