vague

Etymology

From Middle French vague, from Latin vagus (“uncertain, vague”, literally “wandering, rambling, strolling”).

adj

1. Not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.
   It follows from what has been said that a vague thought has more likelihood of being true than a precise one. To try and hit an object with a vague thought is like trying to hit the bull's eye with a lump of putty: when the putty reaches the target, it flattens out all over it, and probably covers the bull's eye along with the rest. To try and hit an object with a precise thought is like trying to hit the bull's eye with a bullet. The advantage of the precise thought is that it distinguishes between the bull's eye and the rest of the target. 1921, Bertrand Russell, The Analysis of Mind
   Throughout the first week of his presidency, Dulles and Bissell continued to brief Kennedy on their strategy for Cuba, but the men were vague and their meetings offered little in the way of hard facts. 2004, Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage
2. Not having a precise meaning.
   a vague term of abuse
3. Not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.
   only a vague notion of what’s needed
   a vague hint of a thickening waistline
   I haven’t the vaguest idea.
4. Not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.
   a vague longing
5. Not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.
   Waxed-fleshed out-patients / Still vague from accidents, / And characters in long coats / Deep in the litter-baskets […] 1962, Philip Larkin, Toads Revisited
6. Lacking expression; vacant.
7. Not sharply outlined; hazy.
   He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps. 1922, Michael Arlen, “Ep./1/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days
8. Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.
   The Lord Gray incourag'd his men to set sharply upon the vague villains 1630, John Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward VI

noun

1. (obsolete) A wandering; a vagary.
2. An indefinite expanse.
   The gray vague of unsympathizing sea. 1870, James Russell Lowell, The Cathedral

verb

1. (archaic) to wander; to roam; to stray.
   [The soul] doth vague and wander. 1603, Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, commonly called, the Morals
2. To become vague or act in a vague manner.
   Vaguely, yes. I've vagued all my life; that's been my curse. 1894, Mrs. Campbell Praed, Christina Chard, page 52
   A man's mind vagued up a little, for how can you remember the feel of pleasure or pain or choking emotion? 1939, John Steinbeck, East of Eden
   What's with you? You're all vagued out. 2009, Zoe Foster Blake, Air Kisses
3. (Internet slang, intransitive) To make vague negative comments publicly; to make highly veiled complaints or insults.