1. = INDECISIVE a. 1.
1661. Glanvill, Van. Dogm., 132. The two Nations differing about the antiquity of their language, made appeal to an undecisive experiment.
1769. Junius’ Lett., xxxv. (1788), 178. Undecisive qualifying measures will disgrace your government still more than open violence.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 24. The analyses … present different results, and consequently are undecisive.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. 291. At Air-Gialla … an undecisive conflict was fought.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, I. 278. When a bull … from his neck Hath shaken out the undecisive axe.
2. = INDECISIVE a. 2.
1780. Mirror, No. 104. My poor friend, naturally of an undecisive temper,… had accustomed himself to deliberate on every trifle.
1802. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Pitt & Statue, Wks. 1812, IV. 510. So very undecisive in decision, Leaving for future Chancery-traps provision.
Hence Undecisively adv.; Undecisiveness.
1771. Macpherson, Introd. Hist. Gt. Brit., 182. Their [the Jews’] lawgiver and prophets, if they speak at all, speak very obscurely, as well as undecisively, upon the subject [of the Immortality of the Soul].
1778. Ann. Reg., Hist., 30/2. The undecisiveness of the campaign had … occasioned a prodigious desertion on both sides.
