Definition of "vague"

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

Waxed-fleshed out-patients / Still vague from accidents, / And characters in long coats / Deep in the litter-baskets […]

1962, Philip Larkin, Toads Revisited

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

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

She danced along with vague, regardless eyes, / Anxious her lips, her breathing quick and short: [...]

1819, John Keats, “The Eve of St. Agnes”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, stanza VIII, page 87

the Scots had some leasure to plaie their vagues

1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison

The gray vague of unsympathizing sea.

1870, James Russell Lowell, The Cathedral

[The soul] doth vague and wander.

1603, Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, commonly called, the Morals

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