meaning - Ambiguity of "quite"


The adverb "quite" has the following meanings according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:



1: wholly, completely ("not quite finished")


2: to an extreme : positively "quite sure" —often used as an intensifier with a "quite a swell guy" "quite a beauty"


3: to a considerable extent : rather ("quite near")



My understanding is that #1 and #2 conflict with #3. For example, when you say "She's quite right", do you mean "She's completely right" or "To a considerable extent, she's right"? Notice that in the latter case you're not saying that she is completely right.


Another example is "I'm quite sure". Does it necessarily mean "I'm completely sure"?


Does the word really have conflicting meanings that can possibly cause ambiguity? Or am I missing something?



Answer



No, you're not missing anything - the word has ambiguous definitions.


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