Ambiguity – a Word History with Help from a Saint
Hello,
Last week when I was chatting on my Wordfoolery Wednesday radio slot (once a month on LMFM radio, you’ll find samples here), we were discussing the meaning of parisology. It was the word I’d chosen as our Mystery Word. The Mystery Word encourages listeners to call in with silly definitions for the word. We had a few about the beautiful city of Paris, as I’d expected, a few hilarious ones about Paris Hilton, and even the suggestion that it was an unnerving level of knowledge about parasols (loved that idea!), but the actual meaning of parisology is the use of ambiguous words.
It seemed fitting as I deliberately choose ambiguous words for the Mystery Word segment. If it’s too easy to guess the meaning of the word, then where’s the fun in creating crazy definitions, right?
Thinking about ambiguous words reminded me that I’ve never explored the etymology of ambiguity, despite liking the word. Having celebrated 15 years of the Wordfoolery blog yesterday (yes, there are 15 years of wordy posts here!), it’s time I rectified that omission.
Ambiguity entered English around 1400 to describe uncertainty, doubt, and hesitation. It came from Old French ambiguite and Latin ambiguitatem (double meaning) and ambiguus (having a double meaning). This is a word the Romans Gave Us, with a little help from a saint.
Ambiguous joined the dictionary later, in 1528, more on that in a moment. Ambiguous meant to be open to various interpretations and of a doubtful nature. It’s again drawn from ambiguus in Latin, which comes from the verb ambigere (to dispute or debate) but literally translates as “to wander around” from ambi (about) and agere (to drive or move). I love the idea of the meanings of words wandering about the place and the dictionary being filled with mobile meanings.
The first recorded use of the word ambiguous in English is by Sir Thomas More in 1528 which seems very appropriate as he lived in turbulent political and religous times when careful use of ambiguity might help you keep your head or avoid a bonfire.
Sir Thomas (1478-1535) was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, and statesman during the reign of King Henry VIII. He refused to accept Henry as head of the Church of England or the legality of the end of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon (Henry’s first wife). After refusing the take the Oath of Supremacy he was convicted of treason and executed. He was canonised as a Roman Catholic saint and martyr in 1935.
Until next time, happy reading, writing, and wordfooling,
Grace
