equivocal

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Alternative forms

• æquivocal (rare)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /əˈkwɪvəkəl/ SAMPA: /@"kwIv@k@l/

Noun

equivocal (plural equivocals)

1. A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.

Synonyms

• double entendre

Adjective

equivocal (comparative more equivocal, superlative most equivocal)

1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two or more significations equally applicable; capable of double or multiple interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.
2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal.
3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful, incongruous.

Synonyms

• ambiguous, doubtful, uncertain, indeterminate

Antonyms

• unequivocal
• univocal

Derived terms

• equivocalness

Related terms

• equivocation
• equivoque

Translations

having several applicable significations

Bulgarian: двусмислен (bg) Finnish: moniselitteinen (fi), monimerkityksinen (fi) German: doppeldeutig (de), mehrdeutig (de)

Macedonian: двосмислен (mk) (dvósmislen) m. Romanian: echivoc, ambiguu Russian: двусмысленный (ru) (dvusmýslennyj)

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

Finnish: moniselitteinen (fi), epämääräinen (fi) German: fragwürdig (de) Macedonian: сомнителен (mk) (somnítelen) m.

Russian: сомнительный (ru) (somnítel'nyj)

uncertain, doubtful

Bulgarian: несигурен (bg), съмнителен (bg) Finnish: epäilyttävä (fi), epäselvä (fi), kyseenalainen (fi), epäjohdonmukainen (fi) German: fragwürdig (de) Italian: equivoco (it)

Macedonian: сомнителен (mk) (somnítelen) m. Romanian: echivoc (ro) m. and n. Russian: сомнительный (ru) (somnítel'nyj)

External links

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