questionableadj.

Brit.

/ˈkwɛstʃənəbl/,

/ˈkwɛstʃn̩əbl/,

/ˈkwɛstjənəb(ə)l/, U.S.

/ˈkwɛstʃənəb(ə)l/,

/ˈkwɛʃtʃənəb(ə)l/

Forms: 1500s– questionable; Scottish pre-1700 questionabill, pre-1700 1700s– questionable.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: question n., -able suffix; question v., -able suffix.

Etymology: Originally (in quot. 1443 at sense 1a) < question n. + -able suffix. In later use < question v. + -able suffix.

a. Of a thing, fact, etc.: open to question or dispute; doubtful, uncertain. Frequently in it is questionable whether (also if).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > [adjective] > causing doubt

questionable1443

werefulc1485

scrupulous1548

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

1443 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1916) II. 178 Gif ony of thir partyis hafe ony clause in thair chartar unclere or questionabill the parti plenyheand sal..warn his party of the..clausis doutfull and questionabill.

1566 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 480 Undirstanding the tytill of the saidis landis to be questionabill betuix the saidis partiis, and to require the decisioun of the law.

1593 A. Chute tr. Remonstrances f. 5^v It is questionable whether the King of Nauarre woulde make himselfe Catholicke.

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 122 It is questionable whether they haue any hinds or females.

1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. iii. 127 Making it a thing not questionable by our Prelates and Clergie.

1685 Lady Russell in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 341 The Queen, is not at all well;..'tis questionable if she can endure the ceremony of the Coronation.

1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra I. Ded. p. iv The right of juries to return a general verdict, in all cases whatsoever, is..not..in any shape questionable by the legislature.

1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 63 Whatever rendered property questionable, ambiguous, and insecure.

1804 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. IV. 204 This doctrine seems very questionable.

1893 S. Baring-Gould Cheap Jack Zita I. v. 74 The tract over which the ancestral slodger..had exercised more or less questionable rights.

1952 R. Jakobson et al. Prelim. Speech Anal. ii. 26 It is highly questionable whether there are languages in which..there actually is a..distinctive opposition of voiced and murmured vowels.

2006 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Oct. 218/1 His secretary would..supervise the researchers in checking questionable facts that had earlier been flagged (‘greened’) on previous drafts.

†b. Of doubtful or obscure meaning. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adjective]

higheOE

dighela1000

deepc1000

darkOE

starkOE

dusk?c1225

subtle1340

dimc1350

subtilea1393

covert1393

mystica1398

murka1400

cloudyc1400

hard?c1400

mistyc1400

unclearc1400

diffuse1430

abstractc1450

diffused?1456

exquisitec1460

obnubilous?a1475

obscure?a1475

covered1484

intricate?a1500

nice?a1500

perplexeda1500

difficilea1513

difficult1530

privy1532

smoky1533

secret1535

abstruse?1549

difficul1552

entangled1561

confounded1572

darksome1574

obnubilate1575

enigmatical1576

confuse1577

mysteriousa1586

Delphic1598

obfuscatea1600

enfumed1601

Delphicala1603

obstruse1604

abstracted1605

confused1611

questionable1611

inevident1614

recondite1619

cryptic1620

obfuscated1620

transcendent1624

Delphian1625

oraculous1625

enigmatic1628

recluse1629

abdite1635

undilucidated1635

clouded1641

benighted1647

oblite1650

researched1653

obnubilated1658

obscurative1664

tenebrose1677

hyperbyssal1691

condite1695

diffusive1709

profound1710

tenebricose1730

oracular1749

opaque1761

unenlightening1768

darkling1795

offuscating1798

unrecognizable1817

tough1820

abstrusive1848

obscurant1878

out-of-focus1891

unplumbable1895

inenubilable1903

non-transparent1939

1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. to Rdr. sig. B2 To determine of such things as the Spirit of God hath left (euen in the iudgment of the iudicious) questionable, can be no lesse then presumption.

1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxviii. 408 For fear something should arise hereafter, when I cannot answer for myself, to render any thing dark or questionable in it.

1835 I. Taylor Spiritual Despotism iv. 119 In the lapse of ages, the phraseology of law may become first obsolete, and then questionable.

a1891 in H. Melville Coll. Poems (1947) 346 A fervent little lyric which, if obscure in purport or anyway questionable to a Hyperborean professor of Agnostic Moral Philosophy, will nevertheless to readers as intelligently sympathetic as our honest narrator, be transparent enough.

c. Of a quality, property, etc.: about the existence or presence of which there may be a question.

ΚΠ

a1652 R. Brome Court Begger iv. i. sig. Q8, in Five New Playes (1653) He thinks I lie now. And should he gi' me the lie, the vertue of my Oath were questionable.

1724 J. Henley in J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. vi. xv. 281 Priscus has a very questionable Understanding [L. Est omnino Priscus dubiae sanitatis]: Yet, he is in publick Offices, he is consulted, he is employ'd sometimes as a Judge.

1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. 111 Her virtue is not in the least questionable.

1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. vii The propriety of importing any of our school books from Great Britain..is very questionable.

1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xii. 123 The questionable privilege of having as many wives as he could support.

1885 Manch. Examiner 20 Feb. 5/1 Either its object is of questionable expediency, or its work is imperfectly done.

1968 New Eng. Jrnl. Med. 1 Feb. 267/1 There was questionable weakness of the left arm.

2005 Isis 96 63 The term ‘colonial science’ thus seems..lacking precise definition and of questionable utility.

d. Of doubtful nature, character, or quality; not clearly in accordance with honesty, honour, respectability, wisdom, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > [adjective] > of doubtful reputation

queer?a1513

questionable1788

equivocal1790

shy1849

dingy1855

demi-reputable1897

off-white1951

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

1788 C. Smith Emmeline III. iii. 70 No doubt the Colonel is a man of gallantry; but his friendship to you is rather more questionable.

1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London II. xi. 261 There are a thousand questionable thoughts rushing at once upon my mind.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Charles I ii, in Wks. (1870) II. 383 Stick not even at questionable means.

1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope iii. 79 A coolness ensued between the principal and his partners in consequence of these questionable dealings.

a1894 R. L. Stevenson Amateur Emigrant (1895) 175 There were three basin-stands, and a few crumpled towels..; nor should I forget a looking-glass and a pair of questionable combs.

1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 111 Lulu, a lady of infinite allure but questionable character.

1998 H. Strachan Way Up Way Out vii. 155 Drinking uncertified booze in this questionable place.

e. U.S. Sport. Of a player on a team: unlikely to play (in a forthcoming match), usually on account of injury. Cf. doubtful adj. Additions e.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [adjective] > condition or fitness

unexercised1562

fine1815

well-girt1816

fit1869

questionable1941

match-fit1960

on-form1965

1941 Austin (Texas) Amer. 18 Oct. (Sports section)13/6 Jim Sterling at end and Bill Sibley at center were listed as questionable.

1970 News-Herald (Panama City, Florida) 29 Dec. 3 b/4 He is questionable with a sprained left foot.

2004 L. R. Seidel Investing in College Basketball x. 242 Their two biggest guys..are questionable for tonight's game, and, without them, Akron would be very thin up front.

†2.

a. Of a question: that may be asked or put. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > [adjective] > that may be asked

questionable1590

1590 C. S. Briefe Resol. Right Relig. 1 It is a question, scarse questionable.

b. Of a person: that may be interrogated; of whom questions may be asked. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > [adjective] > capable of being interrogated

questionable1603

interrogable1827

1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 24 Thou commest in such questionable shape, That I will speake to thee.

1878 R. Simpson tr. Prodigal Son vi, in R. Simpson School of Shakspere II. 119 Hollah! boy... Stay still and be questionable. Tell me [etc.].]

c. Of a place: where questions may easily be asked. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > [adjective] > that may be asked > of place: allowing questions

questionable1608

1608 T. Middleton Your Fiue Gallants sig. E In such publicke as a Tauerne, such a questionable place.

†3. Of people or acts: liable to be called to account or examined judicially. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > [adjective] > liable to an action at law

pleadablec1455

actionala1475

pleable1494

suitablea1555

litigious1568

impleadable1576

issuable?1577

suable1596

actionablea1601

questionable1639

litigable1767

1639 R. Gentilis tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Inquisition 6 The delinquent shall be sent to the place where hee is questionable for spirituall matters [It. dou' è soggetto in spirituale].

1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides 51 Whatever was done by their Commands, or their Authority, is not questionable by your Lordships.

1672 J. Lacy Dumb Lady iii. i. 30 Other Professions are lyable to miscarriages and questionable: but the Physician may kill from the Fool to the Senator..and ne'er be call'd in question.

1685 C. Cotton tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. (1877) I. 60 Many have thought we are not fairly questionable for anything but what we commit against our conscience.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	questionable
释义	questionableadj. Brit. /ˈkwɛstʃənəbl/, /ˈkwɛstʃn̩əbl/, /ˈkwɛstjənəb(ə)l/, U.S. /ˈkwɛstʃənəb(ə)l/, /ˈkwɛʃtʃənəb(ə)l/ Forms: 1500s– questionable; Scottish pre-1700 questionabill, pre-1700 1700s– questionable. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: question n., -able suffix; question v., -able suffix. Etymology: Originally (in quot. 1443 at sense 1a) < question n. + -able suffix. In later use < question v. + -able suffix. 1. a. Of a thing, fact, etc.: open to question or dispute; doubtful, uncertain. Frequently in it is questionable whether (also if). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > [adjective] > causing doubt questionable1443 werefulc1485 scrupulous1548 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 1443 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1916) II. 178 Gif ony of thir partyis hafe ony clause in thair chartar unclere or questionabill the parti plenyheand sal..warn his party of the..clausis doutfull and questionabill. 1566 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 480 Undirstanding the tytill of the saidis landis to be questionabill betuix the saidis partiis, and to require the decisioun of the law. 1593 A. Chute tr. Remonstrances f. 5^v It is questionable whether the King of Nauarre woulde make himselfe Catholicke. 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 122 It is questionable whether they haue any hinds or females. 1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. iii. 127 Making it a thing not questionable by our Prelates and Clergie. 1685 Lady Russell in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 341 The Queen, is not at all well;..'tis questionable if she can endure the ceremony of the Coronation. 1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra I. Ded. p. iv The right of juries to return a general verdict, in all cases whatsoever, is..not..in any shape questionable by the legislature. 1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 63 Whatever rendered property questionable, ambiguous, and insecure. View more context for this quotation 1804 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. IV. 204 This doctrine seems very questionable. 1893 S. Baring-Gould Cheap Jack Zita I. v. 74 The tract over which the ancestral slodger..had exercised more or less questionable rights. 1952 R. Jakobson et al. Prelim. Speech Anal. ii. 26 It is highly questionable whether there are languages in which..there actually is a..distinctive opposition of voiced and murmured vowels. 2006 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Oct. 218/1 His secretary would..supervise the researchers in checking questionable facts that had earlier been flagged (‘greened’) on previous drafts. †b. Of doubtful or obscure meaning. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adjective] higheOE dighela1000 deepc1000 darkOE starkOE dusk?c1225 subtle1340 dimc1350 subtilea1393 covert1393 mystica1398 murka1400 cloudyc1400 hard?c1400 mistyc1400 unclearc1400 diffuse1430 abstractc1450 diffused?1456 exquisitec1460 obnubilous?a1475 obscure?a1475 covered1484 intricate?a1500 nice?a1500 perplexeda1500 difficilea1513 difficult1530 privy1532 smoky1533 secret1535 abstruse?1549 difficul1552 entangled1561 confounded1572 darksome1574 obnubilate1575 enigmatical1576 confuse1577 mysteriousa1586 Delphic1598 obfuscatea1600 enfumed1601 Delphicala1603 obstruse1604 abstracted1605 confused1611 questionable1611 inevident1614 recondite1619 cryptic1620 obfuscated1620 transcendent1624 Delphian1625 oraculous1625 enigmatic1628 recluse1629 abdite1635 undilucidated1635 clouded1641 benighted1647 oblite1650 researched1653 obnubilated1658 obscurative1664 tenebrose1677 hyperbyssal1691 condite1695 diffusive1709 profound1710 tenebricose1730 oracular1749 opaque1761 unenlightening1768 darkling1795 offuscating1798 unrecognizable1817 tough1820 abstrusive1848 obscurant1878 out-of-focus1891 unplumbable1895 inenubilable1903 non-transparent1939 1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. to Rdr. sig. B2 To determine of such things as the Spirit of God hath left (euen in the iudgment of the iudicious) questionable, can be no lesse then presumption. 1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxviii. 408 For fear something should arise hereafter, when I cannot answer for myself, to render any thing dark or questionable in it. 1835 I. Taylor Spiritual Despotism iv. 119 In the lapse of ages, the phraseology of law may become first obsolete, and then questionable. a1891 in H. Melville Coll. Poems (1947) 346 A fervent little lyric which, if obscure in purport or anyway questionable to a Hyperborean professor of Agnostic Moral Philosophy, will nevertheless to readers as intelligently sympathetic as our honest narrator, be transparent enough. c. Of a quality, property, etc.: about the existence or presence of which there may be a question. ΚΠ a1652 R. Brome Court Begger iv. i. sig. Q8, in Five New Playes (1653) He thinks I lie now. And should he gi' me the lie, the vertue of my Oath were questionable. 1724 J. Henley in J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. vi. xv. 281 Priscus has a very questionable Understanding [L. Est omnino Priscus dubiae sanitatis]: Yet, he is in publick Offices, he is consulted, he is employ'd sometimes as a Judge. 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. 111 Her virtue is not in the least questionable. 1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. vii The propriety of importing any of our school books from Great Britain..is very questionable. 1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xii. 123 The questionable privilege of having as many wives as he could support. 1885 Manch. Examiner 20 Feb. 5/1 Either its object is of questionable expediency, or its work is imperfectly done. 1968 New Eng. Jrnl. Med. 1 Feb. 267/1 There was questionable weakness of the left arm. 2005 Isis 96 63 The term ‘colonial science’ thus seems..lacking precise definition and of questionable utility. d. Of doubtful nature, character, or quality; not clearly in accordance with honesty, honour, respectability, wisdom, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > [adjective] > of doubtful reputation queer?a1513 questionable1788 equivocal1790 shy1849 dingy1855 demi-reputable1897 off-white1951 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 1788 C. Smith Emmeline III. iii. 70 No doubt the Colonel is a man of gallantry; but his friendship to you is rather more questionable. 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London II. xi. 261 There are a thousand questionable thoughts rushing at once upon my mind. a1822 P. B. Shelley Charles I ii, in Wks. (1870) II. 383 Stick not even at questionable means. 1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope iii. 79 A coolness ensued between the principal and his partners in consequence of these questionable dealings. a1894 R. L. Stevenson Amateur Emigrant (1895) 175 There were three basin-stands, and a few crumpled towels..; nor should I forget a looking-glass and a pair of questionable combs. 1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 111 Lulu, a lady of infinite allure but questionable character. 1998 H. Strachan Way Up Way Out vii. 155 Drinking uncertified booze in this questionable place. e. U.S. Sport. Of a player on a team: unlikely to play (in a forthcoming match), usually on account of injury. Cf. doubtful adj. Additions e. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [adjective] > condition or fitness unexercised1562 fine1815 well-girt1816 fit1869 questionable1941 match-fit1960 on-form1965 1941 Austin (Texas) Amer. 18 Oct. (Sports section)13/6 Jim Sterling at end and Bill Sibley at center were listed as questionable. 1970 News-Herald (Panama City, Florida) 29 Dec. 3 b/4 He is questionable with a sprained left foot. 2004 L. R. Seidel Investing in College Basketball x. 242 Their two biggest guys..are questionable for tonight's game, and, without them, Akron would be very thin up front. †2. a. Of a question: that may be asked or put. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > [adjective] > that may be asked questionable1590 1590 C. S. Briefe Resol. Right Relig. 1 It is a question, scarse questionable. b. Of a person: that may be interrogated; of whom questions may be asked. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > [adjective] > capable of being interrogated questionable1603 interrogable1827 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 24 Thou commest in such questionable shape, That I will speake to thee. 1878 R. Simpson tr. Prodigal Son vi, in R. Simpson School of Shakspere II. 119 Hollah! boy... Stay still and be questionable. Tell me [etc.].] c. Of a place: where questions may easily be asked. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > [adjective] > that may be asked > of place: allowing questions questionable1608 1608 T. Middleton Your Fiue Gallants sig. E In such publicke as a Tauerne, such a questionable place. †3. Of people or acts: liable to be called to account or examined judicially. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > [adjective] > liable to an action at law pleadablec1455 actionala1475 pleable1494 suitablea1555 litigious1568 impleadable1576 issuable?1577 suable1596 actionablea1601 questionable1639 litigable1767 1639 R. Gentilis tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Inquisition 6 The delinquent shall be sent to the place where hee is questionable for spirituall matters [It. dou' è soggetto in spirituale]. 1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides 51 Whatever was done by their Commands, or their Authority, is not questionable by your Lordships. 1672 J. Lacy Dumb Lady iii. i. 30 Other Professions are lyable to miscarriages and questionable: but the Physician may kill from the Fool to the Senator..and ne'er be call'd in question. 1685 C. Cotton tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. (1877) I. 60 Many have thought we are not fairly questionable for anything but what we commit against our conscience. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.1443
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