dubitative
Americanadjective
-
doubting; doubtful.
-
expressing doubt.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dubitative
1605–15; < Late Latin dubitātīvus, equivalent to dubitāt ( us ) ( see dubitation) + -īvus -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“No,” said Tom, opening his pocketknife and holding it over the puff, with his head on one side in a dubitative manner.
From Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 7 by Charles Herbert Sylvester
Stephen's face gave back the priest's indulgent smile and, not being anxious to give an opinion, he made a slight dubitative movement with his lips.
From A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
The interest of his chronicle is greatest in the part which concerns Savonarola, though even here the peculiarly reticent and dubitative nature of the man is obvious.
From Renaissance in Italy, Volume 1 (of 7) The Age of the Despots by John Addington Symonds
As for this peace," said Mr. Poyser, turning his head on one side in a dubitative manner and giving a precautionary puff to his pipe between each sentence, "I don't know.
From Adam Bede by George Eliot
Nor was George's seconding of important nature; most dubitative, wholly passive, you would rather say, though the River, in his quarter, lay undefended.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 14 by Thomas Carlyle
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
