Part 210

Am"bi*ent (&?;), a. [L. ambiens, p. pr. of ambire to go around; amb- + ire to go.] Encompassing on all sides; circumfused; investing. "Ambient air." Milton. "Ambient clouds." Pope.

Am"bi*ent, n. Something that surrounds or invests; as, air . . . being a perpetual ambient. Sir H. Wotton.

Am*big"e*nous (&?;), a. [L. ambo both + genus kind.] Of two kinds. (Bot.) Partaking of two natures, as the perianth of some endogenous plants, where the outer surface is calycine, and the inner petaloid.

Am"bi*gu (&?;), n. [F., fr. ambigu doubtful, L. ambiquus. See Ambiguous.] An entertainment at which a medley of dishes is set on at the same time.

Am`bi*gu"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Ambiguities (&?;). [L. ambiguitas, fr. ambiguus: cf. F. ambiguité.] The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression.

No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued. I. Taylor.

The words are of single signification, without any ambiguity. South.

Am*big"u*ous (&?;), a. [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigere to wander about, waver; amb- + agere to drive.] Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression.

What have been thy answers? What but dark, Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding? Milton.

Syn. -- Doubtful; dubious; uncertain; unsettled; indistinct; indeterminate; indefinite. See Equivocal.

Am*big"u*ous*ly, adv. In an ambiguous manner; with doubtful meaning.

Am*big"u*ous*ness, n. Ambiguity.

Am`bi*le"vous (&?;), a. [L. ambo both + laevus left.] Left-handed on both sides; clumsy; -- opposed to ambidexter. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Am*bil"o*quy (&?;), n. Doubtful or ambiguous language. [Obs.] Bailey.

Am*bip"a*rous (&?;), a. [L. ambo both + parere to bring forth.] (Bot.) Characterized by containing the rudiments of both flowers and leaves; -- applied to a bud.

Am"bit (&?;), n. [L. ambitus circuit, fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient.] Circuit or compass.

His great parts did not live within a small ambit. Milward.

Am*bi"tion (&?;), n. [F. ambition, L. ambitio a going around, especially of candidates for office is Rome, to solicit votes (hence, desire for office or honor&?; fr. ambire to go around. See Ambient, Issue.] 1. The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing. [Obs.]

used no ambition to commend my deeds. Milton.

2. An eager, and sometimes an inordinate, desire for preferment, honor, superiority, power, or the attainment of something.

Cromwell, I charge thee, fling a way ambition: By that sin fell the angels. Shak.

The pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres. Burke.

Am*bi"tion, v. t. [Cf. F. ambitionner.] To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet. [R.]

Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with Xerxes for his daughter in marriage. Trumbull.

Am*bi"tion*ist, n. One excessively ambitious. [R.]

Am*bi"tion*less, a. Devoid of ambition. Pollok.

Am*bi"tious (&?;), a. [L. ambitiosus: cf. F. ambitieux. See Ambition.] 1. Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. Shak.