amphibology
|am-phi-bo-lo-gy|
C2
/ˌæm.fɪˈbɒl.ə.dʒi/
ambiguous expression
Etymology
Etymology Information
'amphibology' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'amphibologia,' where 'amphi-' meant 'both' and 'logos' meant 'word' or 'speech.'
Historical Evolution
'amphibologia' transformed into the Old French word 'amphibologie,' and eventually became the modern English word 'amphibology.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a statement with two meanings,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a phrase or sentence that is grammatically ambiguous, often leading to multiple interpretations.
The sentence 'I saw the man with the telescope' is an amphibology.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/21 05:51
