dubius

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdʊ.bi.ʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈduː.bi.us]^[1]

Forms

dubius (feminine dubia, neuter dubium); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *du(i)-fwo-, through an adjective ⟨*dubos⟩ “in doubt”, from which a verb dubō and a new adjective ⟨dubius⟩ were made.^[2][1] De Vaan traces it further to Proto-Indo-European *dui-bʰh₂u-o- (“of two forms, double”), from “two” and the root “to be”, with the same ending as probus and superbus; he compares Ancient Greek διφυής (diphuḗs, “of two shapes”).^[2][1] Leumann suggested instead an old instrumental ⟨*du-bʰi⟩ “on two sides”.^[2] The OLD treats it as formed from ⟨dubō⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first attestation, and the OLD's earliest citation, is Livius Andronicus, of something not clearly perceived.^[2][3] Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260 to before 200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant, of people, undecided, wavering, as in Caesar, and doubtful what to think, as in Cicero; in Lucretius it meant tottering, and in Ovid faint.^[3] The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of what may turn out good or bad, and Cicero of what is open to doubt.^[3] In Ennius it meant untrustworthy, and in Plautus of situations unpromising, critical, and of people of doubtful character.^[3] Döderlein notes that dubius and ambiguus refer to doubt about success or failure, anceps to doubt about existence itself.^[5]

British Medieval Latin used it of a doubtful, hesitant mind.^[6] Late Latin dubiōsus gave English dubious in the 1540s.^[7]

Timeline

• 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^[2][3][4]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the untrustworthy.^[3][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the undecided.^[3][4]
• 1540s – English dubious is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Undecided, hesitant, wavering.^[3]
2. Doubtful, uncertain what to think.^[3]
3. Tottering; faint.^[3]
4. Open to doubt, doubtful.^[3]
5. Untrustworthy; critical, unpromising.^[3]
6. Of questionable character, dubious.^[3]

Word family

• dubietās
• dubiōsus
• indubius
• dubiē
• dubiō
• dubium

Related words

• dubitābilis
• dubitanter
• dubitātim
• dubitātiō
• dubitātīvus
• dubitātor
• dubitō
• dubō
• probus
• superbus
• duo
• English dubious
• English doubt

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from ambiguus and anceps.^[5] The neuter dubium is used as a noun, as in sine dubiō “without doubt”.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.