Amphibolous

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /æmˈfɪbələs/

Definitions

1. Referring to expressions or statements that can be interpreted in several ways, thereby causing uncertainty
2. Describing a phrase or sentence that allows multiple interpretations, leading to uncertainty in understanding
3. Characterizing language that can be taken in more than one way because it lacks definite clarity

Etymology: The Greek "amphibolos" was built from "amphi," meaning "on both sides" or "around," and "ballein," "to throw," so its literal sense was "thrown about" or "thrown on both sides." From that physical image came the idea of a thing that can be struck or understood from either direction, and so the Greek adjective came to mean "doubtful" or "ambiguous." Latin borrowed it as "amphibolus," and the English adjective "amphibolous" comes from that Latin form. The English word therefore carries its original image of something thrown in two directions at once. A statement that can be taken two ways is, in effect, a remark that has been hurled to land on either side of the listener's understanding, and the uncertainty it produces is the result.

Synonyms: ambiguous, equivocal, unclear, vague, obscure

Antonyms: clear, unambiguous, explicit, definite, obvious