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taphorically, 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 and wavering resolution. Milton.

In a doubtful manner. Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare. Dryden.

State of being doubtful.

Misgiving; hesitating. [Obs.] "Her misdoubtful mind." Spenser.

Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [R.] I am absolute 't was very Cloten. Shak.

ferent names of any one who has gone by two or more, and whose true name is for any cause doubtful; as, Smith, alias Simpson.

The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression. No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued. I. Taylor. The words are of single signification, w…

Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression. What have been thy answers What but dark, Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding Milton.

In an ambiguous manner; with doubtful meaning.

Doubtful or ambiguous language. [Obs.] Bailey.

Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. "Amphibological expressions." Jer. Taylor. -- Am*phib`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Ambiguous; doubtful. [Obs.] Never was there such an amphibolous quarrel -- both parties declaring themselves for the king. Howell.

deduced from it the very opposite doctrines. In some instances this apparent antinomy is doubtful. De Quincey.

Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or authority; -- formerly used also adjectively. [Obs.] Locke.

Not canonical. Hence: Of doubtful authority; equivocal; mythic; fictitious; spurious; false. The passages . . . are, however, in part from apocryphal or fictitious works. Sir G. C. Lewis.

The quality or state of being apocryphal; doubtfulness of credit or genuineness.

ivine; to guess; as, to aread a riddle or a dream. [Obs.] Therefore more plain aread this doubtful case. Spenser.

se senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view. More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser. Ascri…

se, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an authentic paper or register. To be avenged On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. Milton.

The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended. The doubtful beam long nods from side to side. Pope.