1. The quality of being uncertain in respect of duration, continuance, occurrence, etc.; liability to chance or accident.
For the phrase the glorious uncertainty of the law see GLORIOUS a. 5 b.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Tim. vi. 17. Nethir for to hope in vncerteynte of richessis, but in quyk God.
1495. Act, 11 Hen. VII., c. 36. Preamble. Greate uncertente and troble myght herafter growe bytwyne the seid Duches and the seid nowe Duke.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 230. Bothe for the vncertaynty of the same [life], and also for the paynfulnes … therof.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 20. Whose study was euer to procure malice, and to set al thynges in broile and vncertentie.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxvi. (1912), 318. The uncertainty of his estate made you take armes.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 278. By reason of the aforesaid uncertaintie in receiving money by billes of exchange.
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 19. Such hazards at Sea as attend Merchants, with the badness and uncertainty of Personal Security.
1755. Earl of Corke, in J. Duncombe, Lett. (1773), III. 29. The uncertainty of the weather was still more surprising than the cold: we have had all kinds of seasons in a day.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nature, I. 164. There is, besides this, great uncertainty of colour, according as the heat varies.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. ii. Neither broken nor at rest; In bright uncertainty they lie.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 75. The uncertainty of the footing between the blocks of ice.
b. With a and pl. Something of which the occurrence, result, etc., is uncertain.
1619. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), I. 174. I send him not uppon uncertayntyes but uppon sure grounds.
1653. J. Hall, Paradoxes, 37. We love to toyl for uncertainties, and in this are worse then children.
1691. Andros Tracts, II. 251. Most of the Persons in our Government understand little or nothing of Trade, and so they leave it always at uncertainties.
1712. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Mr. W. Montagu, 9 Dec. I would not advise you to neglect a certainty for an uncertainty.
1757. Pitt, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 214. Exposed to the most alarming Uncertainties.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, III. ix. Mr. Arnott was wretched from a thousand uncertainties.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. viii. 141. Every thing seems so certain, so inevitable, a consequence of the enterprise—yet my mind is harassed by uncertainties.
1864. Bowen, Logic, xiii. 443. The probability … of two independent uncertainties happening conjointly.
c. An uncertain gain or emolument.
1650. Greaves, Seraglio, 168. He hath then but a thousand aspars a day, as the Cadeeleschers have…; howbeit their uncertainties amount alwayes to a far greater matter.
2. The state of not being definitely known or perfectly clear; doubtfulness or vagueness.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 133. Þat sum men graunten and sum men denyen, for uncerteynte of þe dede.
1395. Purvey, Remonstr. (1851), 47. The multitude and vncertaynte of siche lawis.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Incertum,… doubtfulnesse: vncertaintie.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. Pref. *4 b. Besides the foresaid vncertaintie, into what dangers and difficulties they plunged themselues … I tremble to recount.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 95. This is the briefe of the uncertainty of the History.
1696. Whiston, The. Earth, III. (1722), 285. I might … leave the following Conjectures to the same State of Uncertainty they have hitherto been in.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 291. The uncertainty in which of the stages the delineation of the plant has been taken.
1802. T. Thomson, Chem., II. v. II. 189. He acknowledged … that there were two sources of uncertainty, which rendered his conclusions not altogether to be depended upon.
1869. Froude, Short Stud., Ser. II. Educ. (1871), 322. So far as our special occupations go, there is no uncertainty.
1902. J. Gairdner, Eng. Ch. 16th Cent., viii. 141. The name of the celebrant was kept a profound secret, and to this day it is a matter of uncertainty.
b. Law. In phr. bad, or void, for uncertainty.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 298. Where the words of a deed are so uncertain that the intention of the parties cannot be discovered, the deed will be void. Thus a gift … to one of the children of J.S., he having four children, is void for uncertainty.
1890. Sir A. Charles, in Law Times Rep., LXIII. 767/1. There is some variation in the mode in which the custom is stated, but not enough to make it bad for uncertainty.
c. Something not definitely known or knowable; a doubtful point.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 377. It is vncerteynte whiche Mercurius þis was.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 24. What … is more euident than that which … no man doeth referre to darkenesse and vncertainties.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 187. Vntill I know this sure vncertaintie, Ile entertaine the free’d [sic] fallacie.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 38. To what end … is it for a man to busie his head about such uncertainties.
1878. Stanley, Addr. & Serm. U.S., iii. (1883), 141. Many a one … has been perplexed by the uncertainties and contentions of history.
1889. Renan’s Bk. Job, p. xxxix. There is but one remedy for such uncertainties.
3. The state or character of being uncertain in mind; a state of doubt; want of assurance or confidence; hesitation, irresolution.
1548. Elyot, Suspensio, a hangyng vp; also doubte or vncertayntee of the mynde.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Phormio, IV. iii. Let me vnderstande … if they will giue me her, that I may let this alone, least I stay in an vncertaintie.
1607. Shaks., Cor., III. iii. 124. I banish you, And heere remaine with your vncertaintie. Let euery feeble Rumor shake your hearts.
1635. D. Dickson, Expl. Hebr., x. 242. Doeth not this Exhortation importe the Elects vnsetlednesse, and vncertayntie of perseverance?
1746. Wesley, Princ. Methodist, 43. When I have been in great distress of soul, or in utter uncertainty how to act in an important case.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, i. She was compelled to rest in uncertainty.
1851. Hawthorne, Ho. Sev. Gables, ix. Pacing the room … with the uncertainty that characterized all his movements.
1879. Lubbock, Addr. Pol. & Educ., iii. 57. Uncertainty as to the educational value of Science.
pl. 1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. viii. 139. I marvel at … these hesitations and uncertainties in a man of your resolution.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, II. iii. I suppose, he was full of uncertainties.
† b. In phr. at uncertainty, upon uncertainties.
1668. Howe, Bless. Righteous (1825), 267. Though he be upon great uncertainties as to his enjoyment of them.
1690. Locke, 2nd Lett. Toleration, Wks. 1714, II. 272. Whereby we are as much still at Uncertainty, as we were before, who those are who … are to be punished.
