Amphibolies

/æmfɪˈboʊliz/ noun

Definition

Plural of amphiboly; instances or examples of ambiguous statements or linguistic expressions with double meanings.

Etymology

Plural form of 'amphiboly' (from Greek 'amphibolia'), referring to multiple cases of ambiguous language or equivocal expressions.

Kelly Says

Amphibolies appear constantly in riddles and jokes—the famous Riddle of the Sphinx ('what walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, one in evening') is pure amphiboly that stumped an entire city until Oedipus solved it.

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