equivocal

adj
/əˈkwɪvəkəl/UK/ɪˈkwɪvək(ə)l/US

Etymology

From Late Latin aequivocus + -al, from aequus + vocō. By surface analysis, equi- + vocal.

  1. derived from aequivocus + -al

Definitions

  1. Having two or more equally applicable meanings

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

    • equivocal words
    • an equivocal sentence
    • 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,…

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

    • His actions are equivocal.
    • equivocal repentances
  3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign.

    • How equivocal a test.
  4. + 1 more definition
    1. A word or expression capable of different meanings

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

      • 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.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for equivocal. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA