Ambigu to Ameliorable
Ambigu
(Am"bi*gu) n. [F., fr. ambigu doubtful, L. ambiquus. See Ambiguous.] An entertainment at
which a medley of dishes is set on at the same time.
Ambiguity
(Am`bi*gu"i*ty) n.; pl. Ambiguities [L. ambiguitas, fr. ambiguus: cf. F. ambiguité.] The
quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of
language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression.
No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued.
I. Taylor.
The words are of single signification, without any ambiguity.
South.
Ambiguous
(Am*big"u*ous) a. [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigere to wander about, waver; amb- + agere
to drive.] Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in
either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression.
What have been thy answers? What but dark,
Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding?
Milton.
Syn. — Doubtful; dubious; uncertain; unsettled; indistinct; indeterminate; indefinite. See Equivocal.
Ambiguously
(Am*big"u*ous*ly), adv. In an ambiguous manner; with doubtful meaning.
Ambiguousness
(Am*big"u*ous*ness), n. Ambiguity.
Ambilevous
(Am`bi*le"vous) a. [L. ambo both + laevus left.] Left-handed on both sides; clumsy; —
opposed to ambidexter. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Ambiloquy
(Am*bil"o*quy) n. Doubtful or ambiguous language. [Obs.] Bailey.
Ambiparous
(Am*bip"a*rous) a. [L. ambo both + parere to bring forth.] (Bot.) Characterized by containing
the rudiments of both flowers and leaves; — applied to a bud.
Ambit
(Am"bit) n. [L. ambitus circuit, fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient.] Circuit or compass.
His great parts did not live within a small ambit.
Milward.
Ambition
(Am*bi"tion) n. [F. ambition, L. ambitio a going around, especially of candidates for office is
Rome, to solicit votes (hence, desire for office or honor fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient, Issue.]
1. The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing. [Obs.]
[I] used no ambition to commend my deeds.
Milton.
2. An eager, and sometimes an inordinate, desire for preferment, honor, superiority, power, or the attainment
of something.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling a way ambition:
By that sin fell the angels.
Shak.
The pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres.
Burke.
Ambition
(Am*bi"tion), v. t. [Cf. F. ambitionner.] To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet. [R.]
Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with Xerxes for his daughter in marriage.
Trumbull.
Ambitionist
(Am*bi"tion*ist), n. One excessively ambitious. [R.]
Ambitionless
(Am*bi"tion*less), a. Devoid of ambition. Pollok.
