doubtsome

English edit

Etymology edit

From doubt +‎ -some.

Adjective edit

doubtsome (comparative more doubtsome, superlative most doubtsome)

Characterised or marked by doubt; doubtful
- 1597, King James I, Daemonologie.‎^[1]:
  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.
- 1870, David Steele, Notes On The Apocalypse‎^[2]:
  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.
- 1894, Arthur Morrison, Martin Hewitt, Investigator‎^[3]:
  Well, I got along to me room, sick an' sorry enough, an' doubtsome whether I might get in wid no key.
- 1828, Edward Fisher, Thomas Boston, The Marrow of Modern Divinity:
  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.
- 2003, Marvin Perry, Joseph R. Peden, Theodore Hermann Von Laue, Sources of the Western Tradition:
  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.