6 uses
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Definition
unclear — because there could be two or more interpretations
- Though in agreement that time was of the essence, Washington knew that congressional approval was needed and that there must be no ambiguity over whether his authority extended beyond the immediate theater of war.p. 80.6
- On the matter of Washington's authority, Adams courageously gave him full, unambiguous approval for taking action in New York or anywhere else, and the issue was never to be raised again.p. 80.9
- And John Adams's letter of January 6, describing New York as "a kind of key to the whole continent" and affirming that "no effort to secure it ought to be omitted," was anything but ambiguous.p. 118.6
- To what extent his brother the admiral would influence or even determine strategy henceforth was an open question, and important, since both the admiral and the general had been lately assigned by the King to serve in the oddly ambiguous, potentially conflicting, role of peace commissioners.p. 143.6
- He had agreed to take part in such an "interview," one senses, partly to show the British—and his own staff—that he could go through the motions quite as well as any officer and gentleman, but more importantly to send a message to the British command absent any ambiguity.p. 146.6
- And as if to underscore the ambiguity of the admiral's mission, transports loaded with troops bore such names as Good Intent, Friendship, Amity's Admonition, and Father's Good Will.p. 147.4
There are no more uses of "ambiguous" in 1776.
Typical Usage
(best examples)