AMPHIBOLOUS ADJ. 1. ambiguous, of double or doubtful character ...1644 obs. 2. of language: ambiguous in sense ...1647 ETYMOLOGY from Latin amphibol-us (ambiguous) (from Greek ἀμϕίβολ-ος (amphíbolos, ambiguous) FIRST DOCUMENTED USE 1644 - see EXAMPLE below EXAMPLE "...There was never such a confused mysterious civil war as this; there were never so many bodies of strength on sea and shore, never such a choice of arms and artillery, never such a numerous cavalry on both sides, never a greater eagerness and confidence, never such an amphibolous quarrel; both parties declaring themselves for the king, and making use of his name in all their remonstrances to justify their actions..." From: The Harleian Miscellany: A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and Entertaining Pamphlets and Tracts, as well in Manuscript as in print, found in the late (Edward Harley, second) Earl of Oxford's library; England's Tears, for the present Wars; which for the Nature of the Quarrel, the Quality of Strength, the Diversity of Battles, Skirmishes, Encounters, and Sieges, happened in so short a Compass of Time, cannot be paralleled by any precedent Age.
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