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definitions

incertitude

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

RELATED WORDS

insecurity, skepticism, doubt, instability

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. 2019

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.

  • Her brain was nearly wearied out with incertitude and perplexity.

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
n.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper