Middle English Dictionary Entry
ambigūitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ambigūitẹ̄ n. Also an-. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Uncertainty as to circumstances, events, or fact; ambiguity; (b) obscurity.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.79 : Victorie is redy to oure hond, Voide platly of ambiguyte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4629 : Of her foon fully conquerours, Wiþ-oute doute or ambiguyte.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)387/588 : Tauoide away al ambiguyte, My laste will..Ys this in soth..My cosyns sone shal regne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3322 : Appollo..yaff answeris..Off eueri doute and ambiguite.
- c1440 ?Lydg.Charters (Add 14848)p.220 : For tavoyde al ambiguyte, here set in ordre ther namys ye may se.
- (1444) RParl.5.74a : Eschewyng of all manere ambiguitees and inconveniences, the whiche shull mowe happyn..be breche of thaire promisses.
- c1450 *Assem.Bk.1 Gild St.Geo.Norwich (Nrw-CMus)fol.21 : Yf any ambiguite or dowte here afterward fall for the undirstondyng or the execucion of the seid articles.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2577 : Yee mut declare yeur maters..That I may the bet perseyve al inconvenience, Dout, pro, contra, and anbiguite.
- (1474) RParl.6.165b : That [they]..may have due allowaunce..of the matiere conteyned in the same Lettres Patentes..withoute eny ambiguite or difficulte.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)14/32 : To puttyne awey alle ambyguite.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.271 : That alle ambiguites and dowtes may be removede.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5485 : Compendiously I purpose to discryve Gynnyng & ende..Wiþ-outen any ambyguite.
- (1473) RParl.6.97a : Any..ambiguite..in oure said Letters Patentes..notwithstondyng.
2.
Uncertainty of mind or attitude; indecision, hesitation; perplexity, doubt.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2006 : Of ful vnite, Platly deuoidynge al ambyguyte..to reswme Ȝoure force ageyn.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6192 : Havynge no drede nor ambyguyte In his entent, nor suspecioun.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)422/486 : Forto cleere..cloudy mystes off ambiguyte, Hooly Fremund took hym to praiere.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.506 : Bochas astonid..Fill in a maner of ambiguite..How any woman of resoun sholde be So ful of malis.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)58/24 : Þei stode in so grete ambiguite, þat þei cowde not deme whate was beste to do.
- c1450(?a1422) *Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)2.912 : If that any nowe be..That hath doute or ambiguyte Thourgh fals errour.
- (1458) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)18 : And ye wol..vndevided..withoute eny Ambiguyte, eu[er]y man, hertili and diligentli putte his hande, we shal onys be brought oute of thraldom.
- (1461) RParl.5.464a : The Commyns..knowyng also certaynly, withoute doute or ambiguite, the right and title of oure seid Soverayne Lord.
- (1465) Procl.Edw.IV in Archaeol.12405 : To eschewe all maner difficultez, doubtez, and ambiguitez that paraventur myght falle in mennys myndez..the Kinge..ordeigneth that iij grotes shall make a shillyng.
- c1475 O lord omnipotent (Trin-C R.3.21)30 : Refresshe my mynde with stabyll perseueraunce, That I nat wandre in doute or in ambiguyte.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)49 : Thus stande menne nowe in ambyguytee.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1455) Paston (Gairdner)3.23 : Our ennemyes..have throwen..manye ambyguytees and doubtes of the fayth, lygeaunce, and dewtee that..we beere unto your Hyghnesse.
- (1455) RParl.5.280b : Many doubtes and ambiguitees be thrawen to his Magestee Roiall..of oure trouth and duetee.
Note: Per MJW: lack phr. - none of the existing glosses quite covers > not in doute. ?Sense 1. or 2.