ambivalentadj.

Brit.

/amˈbɪvələnt/,

/amˈbɪvəln̩t/,

/amˈbɪvl̩(ə)nt/, U.S.

/æmˈbɪv(ə)lənt/

Origin: A borrowing from German. Etymon: German ambivalent.

Etymology: < German ambivalent (E. Bleuler 1910, in Psychiatrisch-neurologische Wochenschr. 12 171/2, in the passage translated in quot. 1912) < ambi- ambi- prefix + -valent -valent comb. form. Compare ambivalence n., ambivalency n.Compare French ambivalent (1924, earliest in a translation of Freud; < German).

1. Psychoanalysis and Psychology. Characterized by or relating to the coexistence in one person of profoundly opposing emotions, beliefs, attitudes, or urges (such as love and hate, or attraction and repulsion) towards a person or thing; affected by or subject to ambivalence. Cf. ambivalence n. 1a.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > indifference > [adjective] > having coexisting contradictory emotions

ambivalent1912

the mind > mental capacity > psychology > study of emotions > opposition of feelings > [adjective]

ambivalent1912

conflictful1942

1912 W. A. White tr. E. Bleuler Theory Schizophrenic Negativism 2 The sexuality with its ambivalent feeling tones [Ger. mit ihrer ambivalenten Gefühlsbetonung] is also one of the roots of negativistic reaction.

1934 Jrnl. Mental Sci. 80 735 The manic-depressive is ambivalent towards his own ego, and in depression it is the hostile element that is in evidence.

1968 Jrnl. Abnormal Psychol. 73 7/2 The ambivalent state, of which there are four cases, is more euphoric and dysphoric than is either of the other two states.

2014 Ethical Theory & Moral Pract. 17 38 We can be ambivalent and still be one single self.

2. In general contexts.

a. Of a person: that has contradictory or mixed feelings or attitudes about someone or something. Also: not convinced by the merit of something; undecided between contradictory opinions or courses of action.

ΚΠ

1919 N.-Y. Tribune 26 July 5/2 (heading) Ambivalent admirer pays respects to poet.

1930 S. Greenbie Romantic East xi. 144 On the highway between India and China, they [sc. the people of Siam] are ambivalent in their outlook on life.

1973 H. Triandis in P. Watson Psychol. & Race (1974) x. 242 The Toda feels ambivalent towards his boss.

1992 N.Y. Times 7 July a12/2 He said he was ambivalent on abortion, wanted neither to encourage nor prohibit it.

2017 M. O'Connell To be Machine 61 The effects of technology on my own life..were something about which I was profoundly ambivalent.

b. Of an attitude, sentiment, relationship, etc.: characterized by mixed, uncertain, or contradictory feelings; (also) inconsistent, changeable.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > equivocal quality, ambiguity > [adjective]

double?c1225

uncertainc1384

equivoquea1450

amphibille?1450

ambiguousc1487

indifferent?1531

forked1551

amphibological1587

equivocal1601

double-meaning1605

left-handed1610

dilogical1616

two-edgeda1625

biviousa1644

equivocating1645

amphibolous1647

yea-and-nay1648

amphibolical1652

bifarious1656

double-handed1661

squibbling1674

ambigual1683

equivocous1701

ambiguea1734

double-edged1791

multivocala1834

grey1835

amphibolic1873

ambivalent1923

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective] > of purpose, resolution, etc.

softening1600

vacillatorya1734

unfirm1771

equivocal1791

vacillating1828

vacillate1830

mammered1842

ambivalent1923

hedgy1928

on-again off-again1946

1923 Independent (N.Y.) 6 Jan. 34/2 In seeking the roots of my ambivalent feelings concerning ‘Loyalties’.

1957 H. Carter in First Person Rural (1963) ix. 84 The ambivalent love and outrage with which he confronted the South.

1976 National Observer (U.S.) 14 July 5/2 Carter's backing among Democratic mayors is not at all ambivalent.

1996 M. Hyndman Further Afield xxxi. 238 I have an ambivalent attitude to Orangemen and what has become known as the Orange tradition.

2003 Goslings Fall 30 Daniel Coleman grew up with an ambivalent relationship to the country of his birth.

3. That has an uncertain meaning or import; open to different or contradictory interpretations.

ΚΠ

1922 B. Low & M. A. Mügge tr. O. Pfister Expressionism & Art i. 133 The meaning of the cryptogram is ambivalent.

1958 A. E. Dyson in Ess. & Stud. 53 Irony is..the most ambivalent of modes, constantly changing colour and texture.

1976 I. M. Lewis Social Anthropol. in Perspective (1985) vii. 203 The element of playful rivalry which features prominently in the ambivalent bond between Kula partners.

1991 P. Sweeney Virgin Directory World Music 137 The ambivalent position of Arabesk..is reflected in the fact that Turkish television and radio still shun it.

2002 J. Cartwright White Lightning i. 4 Ambivalent word, vibe: post-modern in some mouths, embarrassing in others.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	ambivalent
释义	ambivalentadj. Brit. /amˈbɪvələnt/, /amˈbɪvəln̩t/, /amˈbɪvl̩(ə)nt/, U.S. /æmˈbɪv(ə)lənt/ Origin: A borrowing from German. Etymon: German ambivalent. Etymology: < German ambivalent (E. Bleuler 1910, in Psychiatrisch-neurologische Wochenschr. 12 171/2, in the passage translated in quot. 1912) < ambi- ambi- prefix + -valent -valent comb. form. Compare ambivalence n., ambivalency n.Compare French ambivalent (1924, earliest in a translation of Freud; < German). 1. Psychoanalysis and Psychology. Characterized by or relating to the coexistence in one person of profoundly opposing emotions, beliefs, attitudes, or urges (such as love and hate, or attraction and repulsion) towards a person or thing; affected by or subject to ambivalence. Cf. ambivalence n. 1a. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > indifference > [adjective] > having coexisting contradictory emotions ambivalent1912 the mind > mental capacity > psychology > study of emotions > opposition of feelings > [adjective] ambivalent1912 conflictful1942 1912 W. A. White tr. E. Bleuler Theory Schizophrenic Negativism 2 The sexuality with its ambivalent feeling tones [Ger. mit ihrer ambivalenten Gefühlsbetonung] is also one of the roots of negativistic reaction. 1934 Jrnl. Mental Sci. 80 735 The manic-depressive is ambivalent towards his own ego, and in depression it is the hostile element that is in evidence. 1968 Jrnl. Abnormal Psychol. 73 7/2 The ambivalent state, of which there are four cases, is more euphoric and dysphoric than is either of the other two states. 2014 Ethical Theory & Moral Pract. 17 38 We can be ambivalent and still be one single self. 2. In general contexts. a. Of a person: that has contradictory or mixed feelings or attitudes about someone or something. Also: not convinced by the merit of something; undecided between contradictory opinions or courses of action. ΚΠ 1919 N.-Y. Tribune 26 July 5/2 (heading) Ambivalent admirer pays respects to poet. 1930 S. Greenbie Romantic East xi. 144 On the highway between India and China, they [sc. the people of Siam] are ambivalent in their outlook on life. 1973 H. Triandis in P. Watson Psychol. & Race (1974) x. 242 The Toda feels ambivalent towards his boss. 1992 N.Y. Times 7 July a12/2 He said he was ambivalent on abortion, wanted neither to encourage nor prohibit it. 2017 M. O'Connell To be Machine 61 The effects of technology on my own life..were something about which I was profoundly ambivalent. b. Of an attitude, sentiment, relationship, etc.: characterized by mixed, uncertain, or contradictory feelings; (also) inconsistent, changeable. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > equivocal quality, ambiguity > [adjective] double?c1225 uncertainc1384 equivoquea1450 amphibille?1450 ambiguousc1487 indifferent?1531 forked1551 amphibological1587 equivocal1601 double-meaning1605 left-handed1610 dilogical1616 two-edgeda1625 biviousa1644 equivocating1645 amphibolous1647 yea-and-nay1648 amphibolical1652 bifarious1656 double-handed1661 squibbling1674 ambigual1683 equivocous1701 ambiguea1734 double-edged1791 multivocala1834 grey1835 amphibolic1873 ambivalent1923 the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective] > of purpose, resolution, etc. softening1600 vacillatorya1734 unfirm1771 equivocal1791 vacillating1828 vacillate1830 mammered1842 ambivalent1923 hedgy1928 on-again off-again1946 1923 Independent (N.Y.) 6 Jan. 34/2 In seeking the roots of my ambivalent feelings concerning ‘Loyalties’. 1957 H. Carter in First Person Rural (1963) ix. 84 The ambivalent love and outrage with which he confronted the South. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 14 July 5/2 Carter's backing among Democratic mayors is not at all ambivalent. 1996 M. Hyndman Further Afield xxxi. 238 I have an ambivalent attitude to Orangemen and what has become known as the Orange tradition. 2003 Goslings Fall 30 Daniel Coleman grew up with an ambivalent relationship to the country of his birth. 3. That has an uncertain meaning or import; open to different or contradictory interpretations. ΚΠ 1922 B. Low & M. A. Mügge tr. O. Pfister Expressionism & Art i. 133 The meaning of the cryptogram is ambivalent. 1958 A. E. Dyson in Ess. & Stud. 53 Irony is..the most ambivalent of modes, constantly changing colour and texture. 1976 I. M. Lewis Social Anthropol. in Perspective (1985) vii. 203 The element of playful rivalry which features prominently in the ambivalent bond between Kula partners. 1991 P. Sweeney Virgin Directory World Music 137 The ambivalent position of Arabesk..is reflected in the fact that Turkish television and radio still shun it. 2002 J. Cartwright White Lightning i. 4 Ambivalent word, vibe: post-modern in some mouths, embarrassing in others. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adj.1912
随便看	household servant household snake household soap household stuff household suffrage household sugar household task household troops household utensil household word household work household-keeper household-keeping household-orderer household-ordering householder householders householdership householding householdkeeper householdkeeping householdly householdman householdment householdness