English → Latin
“ambiguous” in Latin
ambiguusgoing two ways, hither and thither, moving from side-to-side; hybrid; changing, fluctuating, waveringancepsdouble-headed, having two heads; having two summits or peaks; facing in two directionsdubiusMoving in two directions alternately, vibrating to and fro, fluctuating, wavering; Vacillating in mind, wavering, uncertflexiloquusambiguous; equivocalrespondeōto reply, answer, respond; to offer or present in return; to measure upverbumword; proverb, saying; verbingeniuminnate or natural quality, natural character; nature; disposition, temper, inclination; intelligence, natural capacityfidēsfaith; belief (belief without empirical evidence, direct experience, or observation); reliance (act of relying on or truōrāculumA divine announcement, oracle.; A prophetic declaration; prophecy.; A place where oracular responses were given; oracle.
The English word ambiguous itself goes back to Latin agō, through ambiguus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
ambiguous
ambiguus (e.g., answer, responsum, that admits of two or more interpretations: words, verba; and Figuratively = not to be trusted, ingenium, fides, etc.): anceps (proposition having two heads: hence wavering between two directions; what has a double or doubtful sense: oraculum, responsum): dubius (doubtful, indeterminate). (The words are found in this connection and order), dubius et quasi duplex (e.g., words, verba): flexiloquus (speaking what admits of two meanings). (The words are found in this connection and order), flexiloquus et obscurus (e.g., oracle, oraculum, Cic., De Div., 2, 56, 115). An ambiguous declaration, ex ambiguo dictum: a man of ambiguous character, homo ambigui ingenii, ambigua fide. To return an ambiguous answer, ambigue respondere: nihil certi respondere.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for ambiguous?
- The usual Latin words for “ambiguous” are ambiguus, anceps, dubius; also flexiloquus, respondeō, verbum. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.