vagueとは

発音

• IPA^(key): /veɪɡ/
• 韻: -eɪɡ

形容詞

vague (comparative vaguer, superlative vaguest)

1. Not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.
   • 1921, Bertrand Russell, The Analysis of Mind:

     It follows from what has been said that a vague thought has more likelihood of being true than a precise one. To try and hit an object with a vague thought is like trying to hit the bull's eye with a lump of putty: when the putty reaches the target, it flattens out all over it, and probably covers the bull's eye along with the rest. To try and hit an object with a precise thought is like trying to hit the bull's eye with a bullet. The advantage of the precise thought is that it distinguishes between the bull's eye and the rest of the target.

   • 2004: Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage

     Throughout the first week of his presidency, Dulles and Bissell continued to brief Kennedy on their strategy for Cuba, but the men were vague and their meetings offered little in the way of hard facts.

2. Not having a precise meaning.

   a vague term of abuse

3. Not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.

   only a vague notion of what’s needed;  a vague hint of a thickening waistline;  I haven’t the vaguest idea.

4. Not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.

   a vague longing

5. Not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Philip Larkin, Toads Revisited

     Waxed-fleshed out-patients / Still vague from accidents, / And characters in long coats / Deep in the litter-baskets […]

6. Lacking expression; vacant.
7. Not sharply outlined; hazy.
   • 1922, Michael Arlen, “Ep./1/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:

     He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps.

8. Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Sir John Hayward

     to set upon the vague villains

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Keats

     She danced along with vague, regardless eyes.

同意語

• obscure
• ambiguous

関連する語

• vaguely (adverb)
• vagueness (noun)

名詞

vague (複数形 vagues)

1. (obsolete) A wandering; a vagary.

   (Can we find かつ add a quotation of Holinshed to this entry?)

2. An indefinite expanse.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Lowell

     The gray vague of unsympathizing sea.

動詞

vague (三人称単数 現在形 vagues, 現在分詞 vaguing, 過去形および過去分詞形 vagued)

1. (archaic) to wander; to roam; to stray.
   • Holland

     [The soul] doth vague and wander.

Further reading

• vague in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• vague in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• vague at OneLook Dictionary Search