doubtless

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English douteles, dowteles, equivalent to doubt +‎ -less.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈdaʊ̯tləs/
  • (Canada) IPA(key): /ˈdʌʊ̯tləs/
  • (file)

Adjective[edit]

doubtless (not comparable)

  1. Characterized by or experiencing no doubt at all, certain; undoubted; undoubting.
    • 1880, B. Stewart, P. G. Tait, The Unseen Universe, London: Macmillan, page xiii:
      There are those who have doubtless faith in revelation.
    • 1927, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter 7, in The Outlaw of Torn:
      It is doubtless that the old reprobate who sued for his daughter's hand heard some unsavory truths from the man.
  2. (obsolete) Free from fear or suspicion.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Adverb[edit]

doubtless (not comparable)

  1. Without doubt; certainly; definitely; very probably, in all likelihood; doubtlessly.
    Synonyms: indubitably, undoubtably, undoubtedly, unquestionably, without a doubt, without doubt, indisputably, see also probably § Synonyms
    • 1893, Ambrose Bierce, The Realm Of The Unreal:
      I cannot remember that I spoke a word, though doubtless I did.
    • 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M. Hill Co., →OCLC:
      The men, Dorothy thought, were about as old as Uncle Henry, for two of them had beards. But the little woman was doubtless much older. Her face was covered with wrinkles, her hair was nearly white, and she walked rather stiffly.
    • 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 9:
      There is also in these matters of Science (though many scientific men would doubtless deny this) a great deal of "Fashion".
    • 2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in the Guardian[1]:
      Thom Yorke’s onstage pronouncements became less abstract and more effusive, they played the songs the less committed audience members doubtless wanted to hear in the first place: Paranoid Android, Creep, Fake Plastic Trees and Karma Police. At the end of the latter, Yorke happily led an audience singalong.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  • doubtless”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.