amphibolia

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀμφιβολία (amphibolía, “ambiguity”), from ἀμφίβολος (amphíbolos, “ambiguous, doubtful”).

Noun

amphibolia (uncountable)

1. Ambiguity in writing; amphiboly.
   • 1859 June, “Examination Papers”, in The English Journal of Education, volume 13, page 193:

     Give instances of amphibolia, and illustrate the double meaning of words arising by accident, by first and second intention, and by analogy.

   • 2004, Document, Various Specification - Issue 8, page 27:

     The statement contains the error of amphibolia and as a result the expert drew two opinions, one of which was unnecessary.

   • 2018, Michele Kennerly, Damien Smith Pfister, Ancient Rhetorics and Digital Networks, page 36:

     One is not necessarily a likeness of the other, nor an elevated ideal from the base; rather both sides coexist or comingle as an ambiguous and ambivalent weave ina tropical pattern of amphibolia.

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀμφιβολία (amphibolía, “ambiguity”), from ἀμφίβολος (amphíbolos, “ambiguous, doubtful”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /am.pʰiˈbo.li.a/, [ämpʰɪˈbɔlʲiä]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /am.fiˈbo.li.a/, [ämfiˈbɔːliä]

Noun

amphibolia f (genitive amphiboliae); first declension

1. (rhetoric) ambiguity, double meaning

Declension

First-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	amphibolia	amphiboliae
Genitive	amphiboliae	amphiboliārum
Dative	amphiboliae	amphiboliīs
Accusative	amphiboliam	amphiboliās
Ablative	amphiboliā	amphiboliīs
Vocative	amphibolia	amphiboliae

References

• “amphibolia”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “amphibolia”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers