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How "doubtLESS" and "NO doubt" lost their literal sense, and now suggest probability or concession?

English Language & Usage Asked on December 20, 2020

"NO doubt" literally has NO in it! doubtLESS has LESS in it! They both mean NO probability and NO concession. How can "doubtless", "no doubt" "merely suggest probability or concession"?

doubtless, no doubt, undoubtedly. Doubtless, as an adverb, and no doubt have lost the literal sense of “without doubt.” Now they merely suggest probability or concession, as in The court doubtless considered the possibility and No doubt other

Bahrych, Merino. Legal Writing and Analysis in a Nutshell 5th edition (2017). 362.

One Answer

Doubtless: is used to mean that you are certain that something will happen or is true

They will doubtless protest, but there's nothing they can do.

Doubtless you have heard the news already.

Cambridge dictionary

In these examples, doubtless appears as an adverbial qualifier based on opinion rather than fact. The assertion appears certain, but is (at least in principle) left open to negation.

This usage contrasts with related statements such as “There is no doubt that they will protest” or “There is no doubt that you have heard the news”, which are statements of certainty, presumably based on some proven or incontrovertible facts.

This slight shift of meaning between the different constructions is consistent with the flexibility of language and the development of idiom.

There is no doubt that you have read this answer. No doubt the answer helps with your question.

Answered by Anton on December 20, 2020

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