Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

amphibology

[am-fuh-bol-uh-jee]
See more synonyms for amphibology on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural am·phi·bol·o·gies.
  1. amphiboly.
Show More

Origin of amphibology

1325–75; Middle English amphibologie < Late Latin amphibologia. See amphiboly, -logy
Related formsam·phib·o·log·i·cal [am-fib-uh-loj-i-kuh l] /æmˌfɪb əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl/, adjectiveam·phib·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for amphibology

Historical Examples

  • Amphibology, am-fib-ol′o-ji, n. the use of ambiguous phrases or such as can be construed in two senses.

    Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)

    Various

British Dictionary definitions for amphibology

amphibology

amphiboly (æmˈfɪbəlɪ)

noun plural -gies or -lies
  1. ambiguity of expression, esp when due to a grammatical construction, as in save rags and waste paper
Show More
Derived Formsamphibolic or amphibolous (æmˈfɪbələs), adjectiveamphibological (æmˌfɪbəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjectiveamphibologically, adverb

Word Origin

C14: from Late Latin amphibologia, ultimately from Greek amphibolos ambiguous; see amphibole, -logy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012