doubtful

Where does the word "doubtful" come from? It comes from Latin dubitāre, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Doubtful’s story begins in Latin: dubitāre meant “to waver.” To waver between two choices, from 'duo', two. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as douter. To fear or doubt. It reached English by 1300s as doubtful. The silent 'b' of 'doubt' was added in the 1500s by scholars copying the Latin. Today, doubtful means feeling uncertain; open to question.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient dubitāre "to waver", to waver between two choices, from 'duo', two.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval douter "to doubt", to fear or doubt.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s doubtful "uncertain", the silent 'b' of 'doubt' was added in the 1500s by scholars copying the Latin.