Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act or state of doubting; doubt; hesitation.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun rare Act of doubting; doubt.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable The process of doubting or the state of being in doubt; hesitation, uncertainty.
  • noun countable, obsolete A thing to be doubted; a matter that calls for doubt.
  • noun countable A pang or expression of doubt.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the French dubitation.

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Examples

  • But his pride found some consolation in reflecting that, he and his son-in-law having been so lately in arms against government, it might give matter of reasonable fear and offence to the ruling powers if they were to collect together the kith, kin, and allies of their houses, arrayed in effeir of war, as was the ancient custom of Scotland on these occasions β€” β€˜And, without dubitation,’ he concluded with a sigh,

    Waverley 2004

  • Perhaps Mr. Larkin had not yet formed any distinct plans, and was really in considerable dubitation.

    Wylder's Hand 2003

  • He led the way, with something of an air of dubitation, and we followed.

    The Beetle Richard Marsh

  • One evening in this period of dubitation Lane remarked casually: --

    Together Robert Herrick 1903

  • This languid spring day while Conny turned over her mail that lay strewn in disorder on her bed, she apparently had one of her worst fits of dubitation.

    Together Robert Herrick 1903

  • Miss JESSIMINA asked what had she done that I should be in dubitation as to her _bona fides_?

    Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. F. Anstey 1895

  • There is no longer any such article as a separate Scottish language, and, indeed, I am in some dubitation whether it ever existed at all, and is not rather the waggish invention of certain audacious Scottishers, who have taken advantage of the insular ignorance and credulity of the

    Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. F. Anstey 1895

  • "I have met his daughter," said Carrissima, and, in reply to her father's demand for further information, she told him all she knew about Bridget; how that she had made Mark Driver late for dinner; how that, after some dubitation, a visit had been paid to Golfney Place, and duly returned.

    Enter Bridget Thomas Cobb 1893

  • She came in, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright, with an excited dubitation.

    'way Down In Lonesome Cove 1895 Mary Noailles Murfree 1886

  • His weakness he will show, yet also his strength; dubitation yet faith; he will hesitate, yet finally act.

    Homer's Odyssey A Commentary Denton Jaques Snider 1883

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