† ˈdoubtous, doutous, a. Obs.
Forms: 4 dotus, dotous(e doutowse, 4–5 doutous, 5 douteouse, dowtous(e, -ows, -eus, doughteous, doubteous, -euous(e, 4–6 doubtous(e, -uous(e.
[ME. a. OF. dutus, dotus, doutous, mod.F. douteux, f. doute doubt n.: see -ous, and for the forms cf. despitous, piteous.]
1. Doubtful; of uncertain existence, meaning, or issue.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14298 Merlyn seide..þat Arthures deþ was dotouse..ȝyt þe Bretons..seyn þat he lyues in lede. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 373 Counseil in doutouse þinges. 1481 Caxton Tulle on Old Age, Dyvinacions to know the doubteuouse thing. 1489 ― Faytes of A. i. viii. 21 In the doubtouse happe of bataill. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 457/2 Scripture is..doubtuouse and hard to vnderstande. |
2. Full of uncertainty of mind; doubting.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. pr. i. 5 Of a doutous iugement. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 227/2 Thenne cam he alle doubtous to the yates. 1490 ― Eneydos xvi. 66 He abode long in this thought doubtouse and varyable. |
3. Fraught with terror; fearful, dreadful, terrible.
| a 1300 Signs bef. Judgem. 113 in E.E.P. (1862) 10 Þe eiȝt dai so is dotus..ful of tene and angus. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3968 A dowttouse derfe dede [= death], þou duellis to longe! c 1470 Harding Chron. lxxviii. vi, One that should y⊇ doughteous siege acheue. c 1500 Melusine xlv. 318 My departyng fro you is more gryeuous & doubtous a thousand tymes to me than to you. |
Hence ˈdoubtously adv., doubtfully.
| c 1350 Will. Parlerne 4338 Doutusli after he stared on his stepmoder stifli a while. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 121 Grettere maistryes..han y-writen dotousliche. |