vague

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun 2.2.1 Related terms 2.3 Adjective 2.4 Noun 2.4.1 Synonyms 2.4.2 Related terms 3 Galician 3.1 Verb 4 Spanish 4.1 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Middle French < Latin vagus ('wandering').

[edit] Pronunciation

/veɪg/, /veIg/

•  Audio (UK)^{help, file}
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -eɪɡ

[edit] Adjective

vague (comparative vaguer, superlative vaguest)

1. not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.
   • 1921, Bertrand Russell, The Analysis of Mind:

     It follows from what has been said that a vague thought has more likelihood of being true than a precise one. To try and hit an object with a vague thought is like trying to hit the bull's eye with a lump of putty: when the putty reaches the target, it flattens out all over it, and probably covers the bull's eye along with the rest. To try and hit an object with a precise thought is like trying to hit the bull's eye with a bullet. The advantage of the precise thought is that it distinguishes between the bull's eye and the rest of the target.

   • 2004: Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage

     Throughout the first week of his presidency, Dulles and Bissell continued to brief Kennedy on their strategy for Cuba, but the men were vague and their meetings offered little in the way of hard facts.

2. not having a precise meaning.

   a vague term of abuse

3. not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.

   only a vague notion of what’s needed

   a vague hint of a thickening waistline

   I haven’t the vaguest idea.

4. not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.

   a vague longing

5. not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.
6. lacking expression; vacant.
7. not sharply outlined; hazy.

[edit] Synonyms

• obscure

[edit] Related terms

• vaguely (adverb)
• vagueness (noun)

[edit] Translations

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /vaɡ/
•  Audio (FR)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

vague f

1. wave

[edit] Related terms

• vaguelette
• vaguette

[edit] Adjective

vague

1. vague

[edit] Noun

vague m

1. vagueness

[edit] Synonyms

• distrait

[edit] Related terms

• vaguement

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[edit] Galician

[edit] Verb

vague

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of vagar.
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of vagar.

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[edit] Spanish

[edit] Verb

vague (infinitive: vagar)

1. first-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of vagar.
2. formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of vagar.
3. third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of vagar.