amphiboly Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an ambiguous grammatical construction; e.g., `they are flying planes' can mean either that someone is flying planes or that something is flying planes
    amphibology.

WordNet

Am*phib"o*ly noun
Etymology
L. amphibolia, Gr. : cf. OE. amphibolie. See Amphibolous.
Wordforms
plural Amphibolies
Definitions
  1. Ambiguous discourse; amphibology.
    If it oracle contrary to our interest or humor, we will create an amphiboly, a double meaning where there is none. Whitlock.

Webster 1913