Equivocal
[ɪ'kwɪvək(ə)l] or [ɪ'kwɪvəkl]
Definition
(adj.) uncertain as a sign or indication; 'the evidence from bacteriologic analysis was equivocal' .
(adj.) open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead; 'an equivocal statement'; 'the polling had a complex and equivocal (or ambiguous) message for potential female candidates'; 'the officer's equivocal behavior increased the victim's uneasiness'; 'popularity is an equivocal crown'; 'an equivocal response to an embarrassing question' .
(adj.) open to question; 'aliens of equivocal loyalty'; 'his conscience reproached him with the equivocal character of the union into which he had forced his son'-Anna Jameson .
Editor: Verna--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.
(a.) Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal.
(a.) Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful.
(n.) A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.
Typist: Silvia
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Ambiguous, of doubtful meaning, to be taken in a double sense.[2]. Uncertain, doubtful, dubious, indeterminate.
Edited by Edith
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Dubious, ambiguous, doubtful, double-sided
ANT:Univocal, plain, direct, clear
Editor: Lyle
Definition
adj. capable of meaning two or more things: of doubtful meaning: capable of a double explanation: suspicious: questionable.—adv. Equiv′ocally.—n. Equiv′ocalness.—v.i. Equiv′ocāte to use equivocal or doubtful words in order to mislead.—ns. Equivocā′tion act of equivocating or using ambiguous words to mislead; Equiv′ocātor.—adj. Equiv′ocātory containing or characterised by equivocation.—ns. E′quivoke E′quivoque an equivocal expression: equivocation: a quibble.
Editor: Lois
Examples
- But there was less equivocal testimony, which the credulity of the assembly, or of the greater part, greedily swallowed, however incredible. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- And the course is all the clearer from there being no salary in question to put my persistence in an equivocal light. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Jos had always had rather a mean opinion of the Captain, and now began to think his courage was somewhat equivocal. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Nothing more than that he is an equivocal character. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- He made a curious grimace--one of his strange and equivocal demonstrations--threw down his cue and followed me from the room. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- On his side the inclination was stronger, on hers less equivocal. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- These equivocal compliments did not seem to please Hortense. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
Editor: Lois