ambiguouslyadv.
/amˈbɪɡjʊəsli/, U.S. /æmˈbɪɡjəwəsli/ 1. In a manner that allows for different interpretations, esp. through the use of words or expressions that have different possible meanings; (also) in a manner that lacks clarity or exactness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > equivocal quality, ambiguity > [adverb]
ambiguously1534
equivocally1630
escapinglya1631
equivocatingly1652
bifariously1657
equivocally1660
amphibologically1755
mealy-mouthedly1838
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > [adverb] > in a questionable manner
ambiguously1534
questionably1859
1534 N. Udall Floures for Latine Spekynge gathered oute of Terence f. 93 Doest thou stylle yet speke ambiguously and doubtfully vnto me thou naughty pack?
1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 151 Hee vseth the name of bloud figuratiuely, and ambiguously.
1652 F. Osborne Seasonable Expostulation with Netherlands 5 Were not the promises of Neutralitie..drawn up so ambiguously, as if they had come from jugling Delphos, not the deeply engaged Hague?
1695 Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Of Consol. Philos. v. 222 This Prophet used to speak ambiguously.
1743 J. Bancks Hist. Life & Reign Lewis XIV III. xviii. 98 The Marquis de Harcourt's Memoir, which indeed was most ambiguously drawn up.
1796 Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 658/1 The gentleman talks ambiguously of ‘purifying and tempering’.
1873 Albany Law Jrnl. 175/1 Of course contracts may be inaccurately and ambiguously expressed.
1909 W. James Pluralistic Universe 129 The absolute has as yet appeared immediately to only a few mystics, and indeed to them very ambiguously.
1939 English Autumn 346 Ladies' dress-shops ambiguously advertise ‘siren suits’ for the Air Raid Shelter.
1996 I. Donnachie et al. Studying Sc. Hist., Lit. & Culture 181 The somewhat ambiguously termed ‘Georgian Gothic’ buildings of which the most famous illustration is Culzean Castle.
2. In a manner characterized by differing or inconsistent motives, attitudes, opinions, etc.; with mixed or contradictory feelings; ambivalently. Also, esp. in early use: in a contradictory or mixed manner; inconsistently.
ΚΠ
1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 66v Shee ambyguously chaungeth her selfe in habite and countenance.
1645 D. North Forest of Varieties ii. 147 I was ambiguously constituted, balanced in disposition, betwixt contemplation and action, thrift and comlinesse, pleasures of the body, and minde.
1767 E. Lloyd Conversation 40 While these tumultuous Horrors fright the Soul, Ambiguously gay, he cries—‘Twas droll.’
1833 C. Lamb Pop. Fallacies xvi, in Last Ess. Elia 280 One that you conceived worse than ambiguously disposed towards you.
1978 E. Peters Magician, Witch, & Law v. 118 The pagan image of the learned magician once more confronted a Christian society, and that society could not but regard him ambiguously.
2007 Atlantic Monthly July 108/2 Blockbusters that are received ambiguously (at best) by the books-as-literature crowd.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adverb]
sliddera1400
slipperlyc1412
untrustlyc1440
precariously1646
ambiguously1706
uncertain1785
unreliably1857
treacherously1860
unsafely1870
1706 Hist. Picts (ESTC T142053) viii. 40 Valiantly and ambiguously was it foughten on both sides.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1534