indubitably

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William Hupy
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indubitably

Postby William Hupy » Thu Oct 10, 2013 10:59 am

This word is without any doubt a negative orphan. Or is it? Even though its adverse exists, I, without a doubt, have never heard it said. It may be dubitable but I maybe heard dubitable.
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Slava
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Re: indubitably

Postby Slava » Thu Oct 10, 2013 11:10 am

It began life as an orphan, but got an offspring. Etymonline says indubitable is from the mid-15th century, and dictionary.com gives a first quarter 17th century origin for dubitable. I'm no professional, but I'd say that makes it a back formation.
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Perry Lassiter
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Re: indubitably

Postby Perry Lassiter » Thu Oct 10, 2013 4:49 pm

It is undoubtedly from the same source as undoubtable!
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