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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary am·big·u·ous \\am-ˈbi-gyə-wəs\\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Latin ambiguus, from ambigere to be undecided, from ambi- + agere to drive — more at agent
DATE 1528
1. a. doubtful or uncertain especially from obscurity or indistinctness eyes of an ambiguous color b. inexplicable 2. capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways an ambiguous smile an ambiguous term a deliberately ambiguous replySynonyms: see obscure • am·big·u·ous·ly adverb• am·big·u·ous·ness noun
ambiguous
1520s, from L. ambiguus "having double meaning, shifting, changeable, doubtful," adj. derived from ambigere "to dispute about," lit. "to wander," from ambi- "about" + agere "drive, lead, act" (see act). Sir Thomas More (1528) seems to have first used it in English, but ambiguity dates back to c.1400.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishambiguous
adj. VERBS be | remain | make sth, render sth The paragraph is rendered ambiguous by the writer's careless use of pronouns. ADV. highly, very | rather, slightly, somewhat | deliberately, intentionally I suspected that he was being deliberately ambiguous. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ambiguousam·bigu·ous / Am5bi^juEs / adjective1. that can be understood in more than one way; having different meanings 模棱两可的；含混不清的: an ambiguous word / term / statement 模棱两可的词/用语/说法 Her account was deliberately ambiguous. 她的陈述故意含混不清。 2. not clearly stated or defined 不明确的: His role has always been ambiguous. 他的作用一直不明确。 OPP unambiguous • am·bigu·ous·ly adv.: an ambiguously worded agreement 措辞含混的协议
ambiguous adj.
⇨ misleading Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged am·big·u·ous\amˈbigyəwəs, aam-\ adjectiveEtymology: Latin ambiguus, from ambigere to wander about, waver, dispute, from ambi- around, about + -igere (from agere to drive, lead, act, do) — more at ambi- , agent : characterized by, suggestive of, or exhibiting ambiguity < the ambiguous wording of a message > < an ambiguous smile > < an ambiguous position >specifically : capable of being classified in two or more categories < an ambiguous insect >Synonyms: see obscure
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