doubtsome

doubtsome

English

Etymology

From doubt +‎ -some.

Adjective

doubtsome (comparative more doubtsome, superlative most doubtsome)

1. Characterised or marked by doubt; doubtful
   • 1597, King James I, Daemonologie.‎:

     But to returne to the purpose, as these formes, wherein Sathan oblishes himselfe to the greatest of the Magicians, are wounderfull curious; so are the effectes correspondent vnto the same: For he will oblish himselfe to teach them artes and sciences, which he may easelie doe, being so learned a knaue as he is: To carrie them newes from anie parte of the worlde, which the agilitie of a Spirite may easelie performe: to reueale to them the secretes of anie persons, so being they bee once spoken, for the thought none knowes but GOD; except so far as yee may ghesse by their countenance, as one who is doubtleslie learned, inough in the Physiognomie: Yea, he will make his schollers to creepe in credite with Princes, by fore-telling them manie greate thinges; parte true, parte false: For if all were false, he would tyne credite at all handes; but alwaies doubtsome, as his Oracles were.

   • 1870, David Steele, Notes On The Apocalypse‎:

     But such is the liberal doctrine of the boasted Roman Catholic Church, and such the sandy foundation of that "general and doubtsome faith" which the witnesses renounce.

   • 1894, Arthur Morrison, Martin Hewitt, Investigator‎:

     Well, I got along to me room, sick an' sorry enough, an' doubtsome whether I might get in wid no key.

   • 1828, Edward Fisher, ‎Thomas Boston, The Marrow of Modern Divinity:

     That since the Popish faith abjured is a doubtsome faith, the Protestant faith, sworn to be maintained, is an assured faith, as we heard before from the Old Confession, to which the covenant refers.

   • 2003, Marvin Perry, ‎Joseph R. Peden, ‎Theodore Hermann Von Laue, Sources of the Western Tradition:

     Where he sees the law doubtsome or rigorous, he may interpret or mitigate the same, lest otherwise summum jus be summa injuria [the greatest right be the greatest wrong]: and therefore general laws made publicly in parliament may upon.