doubtfuladj.
/ˈdaʊtfʊl/ 1.
a. Of things: Involved in doubt or uncertainty; uncertain, undecided; indistinct, ambiguous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > [adjective]
openlOE
doubtousc1330
uncertain1338
doubtyc1380
brigousa1387
doubtablec1400
doubtfula1425
questionable1443
batable1453
strivablec1456
inquirable1485
litigious1520
doubtsomea1522
disputable1548
dubious1548
doubted?1551
moot1563
problematical1567
discussiblea1578
debatable1581
controversial1583
disputativea1586
debateful1587
decidable1596
controversible1601
controvertible1601
controversal1604
controversable1607
problematic1609
controversary1610
left-handed1610
disputed1611
dubitable1625
quarrellable1642
catchinga1670
non liquet1678
brigose1679
contestable1702
equivocala1797
controversional1807
contradictable1856
discutable1868
hinky1961
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Ezek. xii. 24 Nether bifor tellyng of thing to comynge schal be douteful.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 129/2 Dowtefulle, dubius, ambiguus.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 66 Sometyme as masculynes, sometyme as femynines: and therfore I calle theym of the doutfull gendre.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 41/1 Wherof..he wiste was doubtuous.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Pviij Deceiptfull argumentes, when a doubtfull worde is used.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iv. iv. 423 You haue no cause to hold my friendship doubtfull . View more context for this quotation
1669 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. I i. x. 56 Whether he were a God or man, is doutful.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 470. ¶1 A doubtful Passage in a Latin Poet.
1839 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VI. 93 It is very doubtful whether he saw Aristotle again.
1857 E. L. Birkett Bird's Urinary Deposits (ed. 5) 131 Highly coloured deposits..of doubtful origin.
b. Of uncertain issue.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adjective]
unsicker?c1225
uncertaina1382
unsadc1384
untristya1387
untrustya1387
unsurec1412
falliblec1425
slipperc1430
ficklea1450
frivol1488
slidder?a1500
casuala1535
slippery1548
slippy1548
failable1561
doubtful1562
lubricious1584
slope1587
queasy1589
unconfirmedc1592
nice1598
catching1603
loose1603
precary1606
ambiguous1612
treacherous1612
unsafe1615
unsureda1616
precarious1626
lubric1631
dubious1635
lubricous1646
unestablished1646
unfixed1654
unsecure?a1685
unreliable1810
unproven1836
untrustworthy1846
shady1848
wobbly1877
Kaffir1899
independable1921
dodgy1961
temperamental1962
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [adjective] > relating to battles > undecided
doubtful1562
drawn1610
middle1625
dubious1635
1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in Two Comm. Turcks i. f. 14 The battayle was so doubtefull [printed doublefull], that of neyther syde was there seene any aduantage.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 673 And try the doubtful Chance of War.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc vi. 342 Yet the fight Hung doubtful.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby i. xix. 29 I watched him through the doubtful fray.
c. Of questionable or equivocal character.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > immorality > [adjective] > possibly
questionable1788
doubtful1838
dubious1860
society > morality > moral evil > [adjective] > immoral or unethical > of doubtful morality
murky1779
questionable1788
doubtful1838
dubious1860
1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella III. ii. xvi. 253 She never employed doubtful agents or sinister measures.
1884 G. Allen Philistia I. 3 A shabby composite tenement in a doubtful district of Marylebone.
d. Prosody. Of varying quantity; that may be either long or short.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > rhythm > [adjective] > quantitative > of variable quantity
common1582
doubtful1871
1871 B. H. Kennedy Public School Lat. Gram. §218 Syllables which might..be either long or short, are called Doubtful.
2. Of persons: Divided or unsettled in opinion; in doubt; undetermined, uncertain, hesitating.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > [adjective]
orrathc1175
unsicker?c1225
doubtousc1374
doubtive1393
unsurec1412
uncertained1470
doubtful1509
unassured1528
scriple?a1534
unpersuadeda1535
uncertainc1540
scrupulous1559
unsatisfied1575
unresolved1587
incertaina1616
dubious1632
scrupling1641
hesitant1647
insecure1649
hesitatious1657
uncleara1658
groping1691
doubting1715
dubitative1728
gingerish1764
vague1806
duberous1818
dubitant1821
undecided1828
inconclusive1836
foreheadless1844
titubant1880
convictionless1882
swithering1917
1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. Aiii v Doutfull in her mynde what she were best to do.
a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. CCxiiiv How good counseyle they haue gyuen to the doutfull.
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. 81 (margin) He was doubtfull howe Cæsar would take his doings.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 299 The King was doubtful, and could not resolve.
1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) III. xiii. 122 He was doubtful of the prospects of the rebellion, and doubtful of his own conduct.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 122 He was doubtful..whether the ideal..state could be realized.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > [adjective]
doubtousa1300
frightya1325
adoubtedc1330
carefulc1340
fearful1340
redoubted1385
doubtful1397
ydouted1399
redoubt1417
redoubtable1421
doubtablec1430
ferdly1440
doubtedc1485
formidable1508
flaited1565
aghasting1593
feared1599
flesh-amazing1679
frightsomea1689
effroyable1689
frightening1715
fearsome1768
fleysome1790
intimidatinga1812
fearable1886
scarifying1916
badass1955
bad-assed1962
superbad1970
1397–8 in Gregory's Chron. in Hist. Coll. Citizen London (Camden) 98 To oure excellent ryght dowtfulle soverayne.
1397–8 in Gregory's Chron. in Hist. Coll. Citizen London (Camden) 99 Youre excellent and doughtfulle ryalle mageste.
1556 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 240 The unfortunate end and doubtful tragedy of T.C.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [adjective] > suggestive of danger
doubtfulc1400
ugly1660
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 100 A crampe..þat is douteful or dredeful to do awey.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. xxxviij That all thynges doubtfull shoulde of his frendes be prudently forseen.
1637 T. Heywood True Descr. Royall Ship 22 Worthily they have demeaned themselves..eyther in doubtfull discoveries, or more dangerous Naumachies or Sea-fights.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. 324 The consul..reported the doubtful and dangerous situation of the empire.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > apprehension > [adjective]
doubtingc1425
feared1440
jealous?1533
doubtful1548
pensive1549
solicitous1621
apprehensive1633
trepidatious1904
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxxiiiv Priuilie enformed of ye French kinges' doubtfull imaginacion.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. May 294 Home when the doubtfull Damme had her hyde.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 79 All this great fight the Constantinopolitanes beheld, with doubtfull hearts.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 184 I am doubtful that you may not believe.
1791 E. Burke Corr. (1844) III. 253 I hear things which make me doubtful and anxious, though not afraid, absolutely.
6. as n. A doubtful person or thing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > [noun] > one who doubts
doubtful1589
doubter1603
sceptica1618
ducker1620
miscreant1660
hummer1820
dubitant1821
don't know1839
hesitater1853
persuadend1865
don't knowist1908
undecided1968
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > figure of speech > figures of structure or thought > [noun] > professed doubt of what to say
aporia1589
doubtful1589
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 189 Aporia, or the Doubtfull.
1861 T. P. Thompson Audi Alteram Partem III. clxiv. 183 Whereby union might be effected..and the mass of doubtfuls brought into play.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 Mar. 7/1 The issue of the battle might rest with the ‘doubtfuls’.
Draft additions 1993
e. Not to be relied on; spec. liable to pull out of a (sporting) event, esp. through injury.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adjective] > of persons
slipperc1000
ficklea1275
untristya1387
flickering1430
untrusty1430
slidingc1435
unsurec1445
untraistc1485
unassure1531
slippery1555
untraisty1567
untrustful1569
unresponsable1619
uncanny1639
fair-weather1677
unresponsible1764
independable1802
unreliable1810
untrustworthy1846
undependable1860
incalculable1876
slithery1902
wonky1919
doubtful1925
1925 T. E. Lawrence Lett. (1938) 485 Don't put yourself about, expecting me, for I'm a doubtful starter.
1987 Los Angeles Times 8 Dec. San Diego County ed. iii. 4/4 Davis will be listed as doubtful for Sunday's game.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1397