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equivocalness

Meanings
  • adjective

    having more than one meaning or interpretation; ambiguous

  • adjective

    capable of expressing more than one meaning or interpretation

Variants
List of all variants of equivocalness 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 'ambiguous, doubtful, uncertain, or false'. The word comes from the Latin words aequus 'equal' and vocare 'to call'.

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

  1. The term 'equivocalness' was first used in English in the 15th century.

  2. In mathematics, a function can be equivocal if it has multiple values for a given input.

  3. The phrase 'equivocal' was used in the famous trial of Galileo Galilei to describe his statements about the Earth revolving around the Sun.

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 term closely related to equivocalness, ambiguity refers to the quality of being vague or unclear in meaning. Ambiguity can arise from a variety of sources, including the use of ambiguous words, figurative language, or context.

  2. semantics: The branch of linguistics that deals with meaning. Semantics explores how meaning is conveyed through language, and how words and phrases are used to represent concepts and ideas.

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.

Equivocalness is a concept that has been explored in various forms of literature, particularly in the realm of philosophy and rhetoric. For instance, it is a central theme in Plato's 'Cratylus', where Socrates and Cratylus discuss the nature of names and their relationship to reality. In more recent times, equivocalness has been used in legal and political contexts to describe ambiguous language or statements that can be interpreted in multiple ways.

How to Memorize "equivocalness"

  1. visualize

    - To visualize equivocalness, imagine a word or phrase that has multiple meanings or interpretations. For example, consider the word 'bank'. It can refer to a financial institution, the side of a river, or even a place to sit. By focusing on the ambiguity of the word and the various contexts in which it can be used, you can better understand the concept of equivocalness.

  2. associate

    - To associate equivocalness with a specific image or concept, consider the image of a Rorschach inkblot. Rorschach tests are used to assess a person's psychological state by analyzing their interpretation of ambiguous inkblots. Similarly, the concept of equivocalness can be associated with the idea of a blank canvas or an open-ended question, where multiple interpretations are possible.

  3. mnemonics

    - To memorize equivocalness using mnemonics, consider the acronym EQUIVOCAL: Equivocalness Questions Understanding Various Opinions, Contexts, and Analogies. By focusing on the different contexts and interpretations of equivocal words or phrases, you can better remember the concept and its significance.

Memorize "equivocalness" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize equivocalness 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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