equivocal


Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Wikipedia.

e·quiv·o·cal

 (ĭ-kwĭv′ə-kəl)
adj.
1. Open to two or more interpretations and often intended to conceal the truth. See Synonyms at ambiguous.
2. Characterized by a mixture of opposing elements and therefore questionable or uncertain: Evidence of the drug's effectiveness has been equivocal.

[From Late Latin aequivocus : Latin aequi-, equi- + Latin vocāre, to call; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.]

e·quiv′o·cal′i·ty (-kăl′ĭ-tē), e·quiv′o·cal·ness n.
e·quiv′o·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

equivocal

(ɪˈkwɪvəkəl)
adj
1. capable of varying interpretations; ambiguous
2. deliberately misleading or vague; evasive
3. of doubtful character or sincerity; dubious
[C17: from Late Latin aequivocus, from Latin equi- + vōx voice]
eˈquivocally adv
eˌquivoˈcality, eˈquivocalness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

e•quiv•o•cal

(ɪˈkwɪv ə kəl)

adj.
1. allowing the possibility of more than one meaning or interpretation, esp. with intent to mislead; ambiguous: an equivocal answer.
2. of doubtful nature or character; questionable.
3. of uncertain significance; not determined.
[1375–1425; (< Medieval Latin aequivocus identical in name = Latin aequi- equi- + -vocus, derivative of vōx voice) + -al1]
e•quiv`o•cal′i•ty, n.
e•quiv′o•cal•ly, adv.
e•quiv′o•cal•ness, n.
syn: See ambiguous.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.equivocal - 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"
ambiguous - having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy"
unequivocal, univocal, unambiguous - admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion; "unequivocal evidence"; "took an unequivocal position"; "an unequivocal success"; "an unequivocal promise"; "an unequivocal (or univocal) statement"
2.equivocal - 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
questionable - subject to question; "questionable motives"; "a questionable reputation"; "a fire of questionable origin"
3.equivocal - uncertain as a sign or indication; "the evidence from bacteriologic analysis was equivocal"
inconclusive - not conclusive; not putting an end to doubt or question; "an inconclusive reply"; "inconclusive evidence"; "the inconclusive committee vote"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

equivocal

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

equivocal

adjective
1. Liable to more than one interpretation:
2. Deliberately ambiguous or vague:
4. Of dubious character:
Informal: fishy.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

equivocal

[ɪˈkwɪvəkəl] ADJ [statement, behaviour] → equívoco
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

equivocal

[ɪˈkwɪvəkəl] adj
(= evasive) [reply] → équivoque
(= contradictory) → ambigu(ë)
(= uncertain) to be equivocal about sth → être indécis(e) quant à qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

equivocal

adj (form)
(= ambiguous, vague) reply, responsezweideutig; statement, commentunklar, vage; positionunklar, unbestimmt; results, researchunklar; evidencenicht schlüssig; she was equivocalsie legte sich nicht fest; he was more equivocaler drückte sich unklarer aus
(= ambivalent) attitudezwiespältig, ambivalent; personambivalent; (= undecided)unentschieden; to be equivocal about somethingkeine klare Meinung zu etw haben; public opinion is equivocal about itdie öffentliche Meinung ist darüber geteilt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

equivocal

[ɪˈkwɪvəkl] adjequivoco/a; (open to suspicion) → dubbio/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

equivocal

a. equívoco-a;
___ symptomsíntoma equívoco.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
“On reflection, I must acknowledge that my situation here is somewhat equivocal,” said Edwards, “though I may be said to have purchased it with my blood.”
Elizabeth saw directly that her father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but his answers were at the same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother, though often disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last.
Wrench, said that the symptoms yesterday might have been disguising, and that this form of fever was very equivocal in its beginnings: he would go immediately to the druggist's and have a prescription made up in order to lose no time, but he would write to Mr.
I thought this idea so valuable, that I obtained his leave to use it on condition of suppressing his name.) Nevertheless, David did not entirely lose his presence of mind; for in that case he would have sunk on the earth or started backward; whereas he kept his ground and smiled at Jacob, who nodded his head up and down, and said, "Hoich, Zavy!" in a painfully equivocal manner.
Johnson, the man who had chafed me raw when I first came aboard, seemed the least equivocal of the men forward or aft.
They, who were of that equivocal age which admitted them to the hunts, while their discretion was still too doubtful to permit them to be trusted on the war-path, hung around the skirts of the whole, catching, from the fierce models before them, that gravity of demeanour and restraint of manner, which in time was to become so deeply ingrafted in their own characters.
He mingles in the narrative, therefore, a well deserved feeling of execration against the tyrant who employed the torture, which a tone of ridicule towards the patient, as if, after all, it had not been ill bestowed on such an equivocal and amphibious character as a titular abbot.
All new laws, though penned with the greatest technical skill, and passed on the fullest and most mature deliberation, are considered as more or less obscure and equivocal, until their meaning be liquidated and ascertained by a series of particular discussions and adjudications.
Peter Van Tromp, an English-speaking, two-legged animal of the international genus, and by profession of general and more than equivocal utility.
D'Artagnan, however, gathered from his equivocal replies that the road to the right was the one he ought to take, and on that uncertain information he resumed his journey.
Athos fancied he could detect an air of equivocal bonhomie upon the countenance of the sergeant; but the adventure of the vault might have excited the curiosity of the man, and it was not surprising that he allowed some of the feelings which agitated his mind to appear in his face.
Stuart by no means relished such equivocal joking, but it was not his policy to get into a quarrel; so he joined with the best grace he could assume in the merriment of the jocular giant; and, to console the latter for the refusal of the horse, made him a present of twenty charges of powder.