VAGUELY

vaguely, mistily

(adverb) in a vague way; “he looked vaguely familiar”; “he explained it somewhat mistily”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adverb

vaguely (comparative more vaguely, superlative most vaguely)

In a vague manner.

Loosely; more or less; somewhat.

Source: Wiktionary

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Vague"ly, adv.

Definition: In a vague manner. What he vaguely hinted at, but dared not speak. Hawthorne.

VAGUE

Vague, a. [Compar. Vaguer; superl. Vaguest.] Etym: [F. vague, or L. vagus. See Vague, v. i.]

1. Wandering; vagrant; vagabond. [Archaic] "To set upon the vague villains." Hayward. She danced along with vague, regardless eyes. Keats.

2. Unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite; ambiguous; as, a vague idea; a vague proposition. This faith is neither a mere fantasy of future glory, nor a vague ebullition of feeling. I. Taylor. The poet turned away, and gave himself up to a sort of vague revery, which he called thought. Hawthorne.

3. Proceeding from no known authority; unauthenticated; uncertain; flying; as, a vague report. Some legend strange and value. Longfellow. Vague year. See Sothiac year, under Sothiac.

Syn.

– Unsettled; indefinite; unfixed; ill-defined; ambiguous; hazy; loose; lax; uncertain.

Vague, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vague.]

Definition: An indefinite expanse. [R.] The gray vague of unsympathizing sea. Lowell.

Vague, v. i. Etym: [F. vaguer, L. vagari, fr. vagus roaming.]

Definition: To wander; to roam; to stray. [Obs.] "[The soul] doth vague and wander." Holland.

Vague, n.

Definition: A wandering; a vagary. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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