Dubito

Dubito is a Latin verb meaning "I doubt" or "I hesitate." It belongs to the first conjugation, with principal parts dubito, dubitare, dubitavi, dubitatum. The present active indicative first-person singular form is dubito. The word derives from the noun dubium ("doubt") and the adjective dubius ("doubtful").

In classical Latin, dubito expresses doubt about a proposition, an action, or a plan, and it appears in dialogue, rhetoric, and philosophical writing. The verb can govern various syntactic constructions, including subordinate clauses and indirect statements, depending on the context. It is commonly used in both everyday speech and formal writing to signal uncertainty or hesitation.

Philosophically, doubt plays a central role in discussions of knowledge and inquiry. The method of radical doubt, associated with René Descartes, uses systematic questioning of beliefs to establish a secure foundation for knowledge. The idea is frequently summarized in the phrase "Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum" in popular and secondary literature, though that exact wording is a paraphrase rather than Descartes’ literal sentence.

Today, dubito persists as a standard example in studies of Latin language and philosophy. It is often cited in discussions of epistemology and skepticism, and it serves as an accessible entry point for learners exploring Latin verb conjugation and the rhetorical use of doubt in classical texts.