dubitation

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Late Middle English dubytacion, from Middle French dubitation, from Latin dubitātiō.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) enPR: dyo͞obĭtāʹshən, jo͞ob-, IPA(key): /djuːbɪˈteɪʃən/, /dʒuːbɪˈteɪʃən/
  • (US) enPR: d(y)o͞obĭtāʹshən, IPA(key): /ˌdu.bɪˈteɪ.ʃən/, /ˌdju.bɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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dubitation (usually uncountable, plural dubitations)

  1. (uncountable, archaic) The process of doubting or the state of being in doubt; hesitation, uncertainty.
    • circa 1450, Coventry Mystery Plays, page 67 (Shakespeare Society; published 1841–53):
      I [...] Alle that my progenitouris hath [...] seyn, ffeythfully beleve withowtyn alle dubytacion.
    • 1570, George Buchanan, Chamæleon, page 51:
      The Chamæleon [...] eftir sum dubitatioun come to Striueling.
    • 1867, George MacDonald, chapter 32, in Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood:
      All my dubitation and distress were gone, for I had something to do, although what I could not yet tell.
  2. (countable, obsolete) A thing to be doubted; a matter that calls for doubt.
    • 1545, George Joye, chapter 12, in The Exposicion of Daniel the Prophete:
      The trewe inuocacion of God thorow Cryst, thei haue turned it into a dowtfull dubitacion.
  3. (countable) A pang or expression of doubt.
    • 1683, John Pordage, edited by Edward Hooker, Theologica Mystica, or The Mystic Divinitie of the Æternal Invisibles, page 99:
      Altercations, disputations and dubitations of, in and about Mystic Theologie.
    • 1841, Thomas Carlyle, chapter 4, in Heroes and Hero Worship:
      [T]he deep earnest soul of the man had fallen into all manner of black scruples, dubitations; he believed himself likely to die soon, and far worse than die.
    • 1864, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “An Evil Eye Looks on the Vicar”, in Wylder’s Hand. [], New York, N.Y.: Carleton, [], published 1865, →OCLC, pages 250–251:
      Poor William Wylder had those special troubles which haunt nervous temperaments and speculative minds, when under the solemn influence of religion. [...] These terrors and dubitations are infections.

Synonyms

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Translations

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References

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French

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin dubitātiōnem.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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dubitation f (plural dubitations)

  1. (literary) dubitation: the action of putting in doubt, or a state of doubt
  2. (rhetoric) a figure of speech, a passage in which a writer or speaker expresses or feigns doubt, for example to forestall objections

Further reading

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Old French

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin dubitātiō.

Noun

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dubitation oblique singularf (oblique plural dubitations, nominative singular dubitation, nominative plural dubitations)

  1. doubt
    • 1377, Bernard de Gordon, Fleur de lis de medecine (a.k.a. lilium medicine), page 183 of this essay:
      Decy la seconde dubitacion se le lepre est maladie de tout le corps
      From this, the second doubt over whether leprosy is a disease of all the body

Descendants

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  • English: dubitation