equivocal

equivocal

English

Alternative forms

• æquivocal (rare, obsolete)

Etymology

From Late Latin aequivocus +‎ -al, from aequus +‎ vocō.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əˈkwɪvəkəl/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪˈkwɪvək(ə)l/
• hyphenation UK: equivo‧cal

Adjective

equivocal (comparative more equivocal, superlative most equivocal)

1. Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation.

   Synonyms: ambiguous, indeterminate

   Antonyms: unequivocal, univocal

   equivocal words

   an equivocal sentence

   • 1817, William Hazlitt, Characters of Shakespeare's Plays

     For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes.

2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.

   His actions are equivocal.

   • 1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], OCLC 1044608640:

     equivocal repentances

3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign.

   Synonyms: uncertain, doubtful, incongruous

   Antonym: certain

   • 1796, Edmund Burke, A Letter from the Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord, on the Attacks Made upon Him and His Pension, […], 10th edition, London: […] J. Owen, […], and F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […], OCLC 559505243:

     How equivocal a test.

Derived terms

• equivocality
• equivocalness

Related terms

• equivocation
• equivoque

Translations

having several applicable significations

Bulgarian: двусмислен (bg) (dvusmislen) Dutch: dubbelzinnig (nl) Finnish: moniselitteinen, monimerkityksinen (fi), monitulkintainen (fi) French: équivoque (fr) m or f, ambigu (fr) m, incertain (fr) m German: doppeldeutig (de), mehrdeutig (de) Greek: διφορούμενος (el) (diforoúmenos), αμφίλογος (el) m (amfílogos) Italian: equivoco (it) m, ambiguo (it) m, ambivalente (it), ingannevole (it), dubbio (it) m Macedonian: двосмислен m (dvosmislen) Portuguese: equívoco (pt) Romanian: echivoc (ro), ambiguu (ro) Russian: двусмы́сленный (ru) (dvusmýslennyj) Spanish: equívoco (es) Swedish: tvetydig (sv) Ukrainian: двозначний (uk) m (dvoznačnyj)

capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters

Dutch: twijfelachtig (nl) Finnish: moniselitteinen, epämääräinen (fi) French: douteux (fr) m, incertain (fr) m, indéterminé (fr) m, équivoque (fr) m or f German: fragwürdig (de) Greek: διφορούμενος (el) m (diforoúmenos) Italian: ambivalente (it) Macedonian: сомнителен m (somnitelen) Russian: сомни́тельный (ru) (somnítelʹnyj) Ukrainian: сумнівний m (sumnivnyj)

uncertain, doubtful

Bulgarian: несигурен (bg) (nesiguren), съмнителен (bg) (sǎmnitelen) Dutch: twijfelachtig (nl) Finnish: epäilyttävä (fi), epäselvä (fi), kyseenalainen (fi), epäjohdonmukainen (fi) French: équivoque (fr) m or f German: fragwürdig (de) Greek: αβέβαιος (el) m (avévaios) Italian: equivoco (it), dubbioso (it) Macedonian: сомнителен m (somnitelen) Romanian: echivoc (ro) Russian: сомни́тельный (ru) (somnítelʹnyj) Turkish: ikircikli (tr) Ukrainian: сумнівний m (sumnivnyj)

Noun

equivocal (plural equivocals)

1. (philosophy) A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term.

   Synonyms: double entendre, equivoque

   • 2012, Deborah Achtenberg, Cognition of Value in Aristotle's Ethics:

     Some equivocals are merely ambiguous. Sharp is an example. It is equivocal since it is appropriate to call different types of things 'sharp' though what it is for them to be sharp differs.

Translations

A word or expression capable of different meanings

Italian: equivoco (it) m, ambiguo (it) m, a varie interpretazioni f Spanish: equívoco (es) m

Further reading

• equivocal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• equivocal in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911