unclearlyadv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈklɪəli/, /(ˌ)ʌŋˈklɪəli/, U.S. /ˌənˈklɪrli/ In an unclear manner; not clearly.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > obscurity > [adverb]
darklyc1350
mistilya1382
murklya1400
obscurelya1527
muddily1648
unclearly1648
reconditely1722
abstrusely1734
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > [adverb]
confusedly1502
amazedly1561
out1585
perplexedly1587
distractedly1608
muddily1648
confoundedly1672
turbidly1728
puzzledly1870
unclearly1875
muddledly1914
distraughtly1926
wuzzily1964
1648 Remonstr. conc. Grievances Eng. 13 He..does as unclearly consent to that, as he clearly dissented from the other.
1683 Case Earl of Argyle 125 His words do not inferre, either clearly, or unclearly, the smallest measure of guilt.
1733 J. Innes Idea Juris Scotici i. 14 If any thing Material appears to be either intirely omitted, or yet unclearly expressed, the same will be immediately added.
1742 J. Bisset Let. to Gentleman in Edinb. 81 I can make no Account of Mr. Whitefield's charging the Querists, as arguing unclearly on this Head, unless it was to excuse himself.
1844 C. Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) II. 29 If I had seen how hypothetical [is] the little, which I have unclearly written, I would not [etc.].
1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. xv. 317 The germs of all the most important modern doctrines,..but unclearly apprehended.
1957 R. F. C. Hull tr. C. G. Jung Coll. Wks. I. 111 In many psychopathic illnesses there are persons who think unclearly and are prone to flights of ideas.
1983 A. D. P. Briggs Alexander Pushkin viii. 187 It is a desultory work which, if it throws out useful ideas, does so in passing and unclearly.
2016 Courier Mail (Austral.) (Nexis) 7 May 57 Readers will have to decide whether a former lawyer..would really express himself so unclearly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1648