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Doubted vs Doubtful - What's the difference?

doubted | doubtful |

As a verb doubted

is past tense of doubt.

As an adjective doubtful is

subject to, or causing doubt.

doubted

English

Verb

(head)
  • (doubt)

  • doubt

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (wikipedia doubt)
  • Uncertainty, disbelief.
  • *
  • It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street.. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) To lack confidence in; to disbelieve, question, or suspect.
  • He doubted that was really what you meant.
  • * Hooker
  • Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt
  • * Dryden
  • To try your love and make you doubt of mine.
  • (archaic) To fear; to suspect.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I.186:
  • He fled, like Joseph, leaving it; but there, / I doubt , all likeness ends between the pair.
  • (obsolete) To fear; to be apprehensive of.
  • * R. of Gloucester
  • Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God.
  • * Shakespeare
  • I doubt some foul play.
  • * Spenser
  • I of doubted danger had no fear.
  • (obsolete) To fill with fear; to affright.
  • *
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • The virtues of the valiant Caratach / More doubt me than all Britain.

    doubtful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * doubtfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Subject to, or causing doubt
  • or showing doubt, sceptical
  • Undecided or of uncertain outcome
  • (obsolete) Fearsome, dreadful.
  • *, Bk.XIV, Ch.vii:
  • *:‘With whom,’ seyde Sir Percivale, ‘shall I fyght?’ ‘With the moste douteful champion of the worlde.’
  • Improbable or unlikely
  • Suspicious, or of dubious character
  • Unclear or unreliable
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=E.R. Eddison, title=The Worm Ouroboros
  • , passage=The pupils of her great eyes were large in the doubtful lamplight, swallowing their green fires in deep pools of mystery and darkness.}}