amphibology

noun

am·phi·bol·o·gy ˌam(p)-fə-ˈbä-lə-jē

plural amphibologies

: a sentence or phrase (such as "nothing is good enough for you") that can be interpreted in more than one way

Did you know?

A venerable old word in English, amphibology is from Greek amphibolos (via Late Latin and Latin). Amphibolos, from amphi- ("both") and ballein ("to throw"), literally means "encompassing" or "hitting at both ends"; figuratively it means "ambiguous." Amphibology is an equivocator's friend. An editor who has been sent an unsolicited manuscript to critique, for example, might reply, "I shall lose no time in reading your book." Or a dinner guest who feels the onset of heartburn might say something like, "Ah, that was a meal I shall not soon forget!" But amphibology’s ambiguity can be unintended and undesirable as well, as in "When Mom talked to Judy, she said she might call her back the next day." (Who said who might call whom back?)

Word History

Etymology

Middle English amphibologie "double meaning, ambiguity," borrowed from Late Latin amphibologia, alteration (by assimilation to the final element -logia -logy) of Latin amphibolia, borrowed from Greek amphibolía "state of being attached on two sides, double meaning, ambiguity," from amphíbolos "attached on both sides, doubtful, ambiguous" + -ia -y entry 2 — more at amphibole