Definition 1: (1) A phrase that is ambiguous because of its syntactic structure; (2) any ambivalent or ambiguous phrase.

Usage 1: Today's word also appears in the guise of "amphibology." It is not to be confused with "amphibole" ['æm-fê-bol], the mineral hornblende. The plural of today's word is "amphibolies," and the adjective, "amphibolic" or "amphibolical." The adverb is "amphibolically."

Suggested usage: We suggest you restrict usage of today's word to speaking of sentences like this one, "Flying airplanes can be dangerous." Depending on the syntax, either flying or airplanes that are flying may be dangerous. Groucho Marx was the master of amphibolies, ambivalence, and equivocation: "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. (How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.)" The meaning of this amphiboly depends on whether the prepositional phrase, "in my pajamas," is attached to "I" or "elephant." This one is simply ambivalent or equivocal because "got her looks" has two possible interpretations: "She got her looks from her father. (He's a plastic surgeon.)"

Etymology: Today's is another word borrowed via French from Late Latin, this time from amphibolus "ambiguous." The Latin word is Greek amphibolos "doubtful," thinly disguised. It is the adjective from amphiballein "to throw on either side," based on amphi- "both" + ballein "to throw." "Ballein" comes from Proto-Indo-European *gwel- "to throw, pierce," the stem underlying Old English cwellan and cyllan "to kill." The first of these is today's "quell" while the last is "kill." Greek ballizein "to dance," the origin of English "ball," the dance, derives from the same stem. Despite the meaning of the original stem and the fact that one can throw both types of ball, the word for the ball you throw and catch is unrelated.