DOUBTLESS


Meaning of DOUBTLESS in English

— doubtlessness , n.

/dowt"lis/ , adv. Also, doubtlessly .

1. without doubt; certainly; surely; unquestionably.

2. probably or presumably.

adj.

3. free from doubt or uncertainty; certain, sure.

[ 1300-50; ME douteles. See DOUBT, -LESS ]

Syn. 1, 2. DOUBTLESS, UNDOUBTEDLY, INDUBITABLY, UNQUESTIONABLY are adverbs that express certainty. DOUBTLESS, although it sometimes denotes an absolute degree of certainty, more often means "probably," "presumably," or "no doubt": She will doubtless accept the offer. UNDOUBTEDLY means "beyond doubt": undoubtedly the most prolific and popular composer of his time.

INDUBITABLY and UNQUESTIONABLY both affirm an unassailable conviction; they differ only in tone, INDUBITABLY being appropriate to more formal or learned discourse and UNQUESTIONABLY appropriate in a wider range of contexts and styles: an indubitably (or unquestionably ) accurate transliteration of the hieroglyphic text; unquestionably the hottest running back in the league.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .