doubty
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English douti, douty, equivalent to doubt + -y.
Adjective
doubty (comparative more doubty, superlative most doubty)
- (obsolete) Dubious, doubtful.
- c. 1506, Stephen Hawes, “4 [The Tower of Doctrine]”, in The historie of graunde Amoure and la bell Pucel:
- That treated well, of a full noble story
Of the doubty waye, to the tower perillous
Howe a noble knight, shoulde winne the victory
Of many a serpent, fowle and odious
Etymology 2
By confusion with doubt.
Adjective
doubty (comparative more doubty, superlative most doubty)
- Obsolete form of doughty.
- 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book VII.] XLIII.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the VVorld. Commonly Called, The Natvrall Historie of C. Plinivs Secvndus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, published 1635, OCLC 1180792622, page 178:
- he thereto aimed, namely, to be a most doubty and hardy warrior, an excellent orator, a right valiant captaine and commander
- [1661, Thomas Blount, “Synonima's”, in Glossographia:
- So, stout, hardy, valiant, doubty, couragious, adventurous, all comprehended under the Latin word (fortis).]
References
- James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Doubty, a.”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume III (D–E), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 618.