Dictionary

doubtsome en · ADJ

Etymology

From doubt + -some.

Meanings

1. Characterised or marked by doubt; doubtful.
   • 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. 1597, King James I, Daemonologie.:
   • 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. 2003, Marvin Perry, Joseph R. Peden, Theodore Hermann Von Laue, Sources of the Western Tradition:
   • 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. 1828, Edward Fisher, Thomas Boston, The Marrow of Modern Divinity:
   • Well, I got along to me room, sick an' sorry enough, an' doubtsome whether I might get in wid no key. 1894, Arthur Morrison, Martin Hewitt, Investigator:
   • 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. 1870, David Steele, Notes On The Apocalypse:

Forms