incertitude

[in-sur-ti-tood, -tyood]

See more synonyms for incertitude on Thesaurus.com

noun

uncertainty or doubtfulness.
instability or insecurity: The incertitude of his position in life caused him to postpone marriage.

Origin of incertitude

From the Late Latin word incertitūdō, dating back to 1595–1605. See in-³, certitude

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for incertitude

insecurity, skepticism, doubt, instability

Examples from the Web for incertitude

Historical Examples of incertitude

There was no incertitude as to facts—as to the one material fact, I mean.
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad
In his incertitude of the ground on which he stood Razumov felt perturbed.
Under Western Eyes
Joseph Conrad
His parents were already there living in sorrow, incertitude, and apprehension.
Tales Of Hearsay
Joseph Conrad
Clarke was truly in a pitiable state of incertitude and despair.
The Tyranny of the Dark
Hamlin Garland
Her brain was nearly wearied out with incertitude and perplexity.
The Shadow of Ashlydyat
Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for incertitude

incertitude

noun

uncertainty; doubt
a state of mental or emotional insecurity

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

Word Origin and History for incertitude

mid-15c., "variability," from Middle French incertitude (14c.), from Late Latin incertitudinem (nominative incertitudo); see certitude. Incertain "uncertain" and incertainty "uncertainty" also were living words in Middle English.