Ambiguity

[Fr. ambiguité, from Lat. ambiguus.] The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulne of meaning; uncertainty of signification; double meaning. "We can clear these ambiguities, And know their spring, their head, their true descent."-Shaks. Ambiguous, a . [Fr. ambigu , from Lat. ambigere , to wonder about.] That quality of an expre ion which leaves us in doubt which of two ways to take in it, and, by an extension of meaning, which leaves us in doubt generally; equivocal; doubtful; conjectural. Ambiguously, adv. In an ambiguous manner; doubtfully; with a dark meaning. Ambiguousne , n . The quality of being ambigu- ous; uncertainty of meaning; duplicity of signification. Ambile vous, a . [Lat. ambo , both, and lævus , on the left side.] Left-handed on both sides; -opposed to am- bidextrous . Am'ber, or Succinite. [Fr. ambre , from Ar. ambar .] (Min. and Chem.) A beautiful fo il resin of trees be longing to the ord. Conifer a , now extinct. It occurs in beds of lignite, in Germany, France, .; but the greatest portion of it comes from the S. coast of the Baltic sea. It takes a good polish; when rubbed, it becomes elec- trical, and the word Electricity is derived from the Greek name of amber, Electron . It is a hard, brittle, tastele substance, at times perfectly transparent, but mostly semi-transparent or opaque, and of a glo y surface. It occurs of all colors, but chiefly yellow or orange, and microscopic fungi and insects are often found preserved in it. Its fracture is even, smooth, and glo y. When rubbed or heated, it gives a peculiarly agreeable smell, particularly when it melts, that is at 550°. Projected on burning coals, it burns with a whitish flame, but gives very little soot, and leaves brownish ashes. It is soluble in sulphuric acid, and is precipitable from it by water. Nitric acid converts it into a resinous substance, and di olves it totally. Density , from 1-065 to 1.070. Comp . carbon 80-59; hydrogen 7-31; oxygen, 6-73: ashes (lime, silica, alumina) 3-27; lo 2-10=100.- A . is Ambitiously, adv . In an ambitious manner. Ambi'orix, a king of the Eburunes, in Gaul. He was a great enemy to Rome, and was killed in a battle with Cæsar, in which 60,000 of his countrymen also fell.