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equivocal

/əˈkwɪvəkəl/
Meanings
  • adjective

    having more than one meaning or interpretation; ambiguous

Pronunciation
  1. /əˈkwɪvəkəl/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88987526"
Antonyms

certain , unequivocal , univocal
Synonyms

double entendre , equivoque , ambiguous , indeterminate , doubtful , incongruous , uncertain
Rhymes
Words rhyming with equivocal
deceptive , perceptible , ceptacle , repugnal , supplicable
Homophones
Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

  1. equivocate (en) : to speak ambiguously or in a misleading way

Variants
List of all variants of equivocal that leads to same result
equivocal , equivocalities , equivocality , equivocally , equivocalness , equivocalnesses
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

from Latin equivocus, meaning 'deceitful, ambiguous' or 'answering in two ways'

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'equivocal' comes from the Latin word 'equivocus', which means 'answering in two ways'.

  2. The word 'equivocal' has been used in various fields, including law, mathematics, and philosophy, to describe situations or concepts that have multiple meanings or interpretations.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. ambiguity: A state of being unclear or uncertain, often due to having more than one meaning or interpretation.

  2. amphibology: A figure of speech where a word or phrase can be interpreted in multiple ways due to its ambiguous meaning in different contexts.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. When I go to galleries to see new art.  … I don't care about what I see unless it holds my eye, and that is an almost involuntary experience; but once something has that hold on me—even in a tentative, "equivocal" way—other factors come into play, and I find myself reaching for analogies, ideas, theories.

    - Jed Perl,{it}New Republic{/it},20 Mar. 2000

  2. He [Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec] frequented the sleazy underworld of Paris, but moved in top circles too, and by virtue of his "equivocal" status as a landed gentleman-turned-bohemian artist, was sufficiently an outsider to be a detached observer of the diverse social classes among whom he ranged so freely.

    - Elizabeth Cowling,{it}Times Literary Supplement{/it},8 Nov. 1991

  3. … in the past, photographs of real situations in color have invited a sense of ambiguity, an element of distrust on the part of viewers, perhaps because the saturated dyes of color film seem to have an "equivocal" relationship to the harsher realities of social conditions.

    - Naomi Rosenblum,{it}A World History of Photography{/it},1989
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, equivocal language is used to create suspense, ambiguity, and complexity. For instance, Shakespeare's plays often employ equivocal words and phrases to add layers of meaning and to challenge the audience's understanding.

How to Memorize "equivocal"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a scale with two sides, each side representing a different meaning of 'equivocal'. Visualize yourself balancing the scale, trying to understand which meaning is more appropriate in a given context.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'equivocal' with the idea of a puzzle or a riddle, as it often implies having multiple possible answers.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create an acronym, such as EQUIVOCAL, where each letter represents a meaning or a characteristic of the word.

🧠 Bonus Tips

To help you remember the word 'equivocal', follow these practical tricks with steps:

1. Break it down: First, break down the word into smaller parts. 'Equi' means 'equal' and 'vocal' means 'related to sound'. So, 'equivocal' can be thought of as something that sounds equal or the same.

2. Create a sentence: Create a sentence using the word 'equivocal'. For example, 'The witness gave an equivocal answer, making it difficult to determine their true intentions.'

3. Associate with a similar word: Associate 'equivocal' with a similar-sounding word you already know, like 'equal'. Think of 'equivocal' as a situation where things are not equal, but rather uncertain or unclear.

4. Use in conversation: Try using 'equivocal' in conversation or in writing. The more you use it, the more likely you are to remember it.

5. Mnemonic device: Create a mnemonic device to help you remember the word. For example, you could use the phrase 'Equal voices, unclear choice' to remember the meaning of 'equivocal'.

Memorize "equivocal" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize equivocal is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

  1. Highlighting:

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