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ambivalence

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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From German Ambivalenz (“simultaneous conflicting feelings”), from Latin ambi- (“both”) and valentia (“strength”), from the verb valere (“to be strong”) (see valiant); spelled on the model of French-origin words ending in -ence. The German term was coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1910; by 1929, it had taken on a broader literary and general sense. Equivalent to ambi- +‎ valence.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ambivalence (countable and uncountable, plural ambivalences)

  1. The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea.
    • 1952, Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man, Prologue:
      "I dearly loved my master, son," she said.
      "You should have hated him," I said.
      "He gave me several sons," she said, "and because I loved my sons I learned to love their father though I hated him too."
      "I too have become acquainted with ambivalence, I said.
  2. A state of uncertainty or indecisiveness.

Usage notes

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This word is often used to express a lack of concern about the outcome of a choice to be made. In this case, a more appropriate word to use is indifference.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

French

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɑ̃.bi.va.lɑ̃s/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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ambivalence f (plural ambivalences)

  1. ambivalence
  2. ambiguity

Further reading

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