equivocaladj.n.

/ɪˈkwɪvəkəl/

Forms: Also 1600s equivocall, æquivocall, 1600s–1800s æquivocal.

Etymology: < late Latin aequivocus ambiguous ( < aequus equal + vocāre to call) + -al suffix¹.

A. adj.

†1. Equal or the same in name (with something else) but not in reality; having a name, without the qualities it implies; nominal. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > naming > [adjective] > named or called > without deserving the name

named1532

improper1552

self-styled1640

equivocal1643

so-called1837

so-termed1843

so-styled1844

1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §12 This visible world is but a picture of the invisible, wherein, as in a pourtract, things are not truely, but in equivocall shapes.

1661 J. Ussher Power of Princes (1683) i. 34 They being subject to the over~sight..of the Ephori, were but equivocal Kings, such in name, but not in deed.

1744 G. Berkeley Siris (ESTC T72826) §210 From the sun's light, which is corporeal, there springs forth another equivocal light which is incorporeal.

a. Of words, phrases, etc.: Having different significations equally appropriate or plausible; capable of double interpretation; ambiguous.

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

1601–2 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law i. 68 Your libel..should be certaine, and without ambiguous or equiuocall tearmes.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 216 These sentences to sugar, or to gall, Being strong on both sides, are equiuocall .

1656 A. Cowley Pindaric Odes Note 47 These vast accounts arose from the æquivocal term of a Year among them.

1712 F. Tanner Plainest, Easiest, & Prettiest Method Short-hand 25 Even in Long-Hand oftentimes equivocal Abbreviations are often written.

1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. IV. 48 He..takes care that his answers be so equivocal as always to secure him a retreat.

1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) VI. 187 There was perhaps no word in the language of more equivocal effect than the word or.

1868 W. E. Gladstone Juventus Mundi (1870) vii. 184 To say..that the Greek religion as it grew old improved..would be to use equivocal and misleading language.

b. Of evidence, manifestations, etc.: Of uncertain bearing or significance.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [adjective]

uncouthc897

uncertaina1325

non-certaina1425

unsurec1445

incertaina1492

uncert1543

ancipitous1652

unsecure?a1685

equivocal1769

problematical1770

screwed-up1942

1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. xxvii. 196 Some..less equivocal proofs of his munificence.

1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature V. 87 No very equivocal symptom of antiquity.

1842 H. Rogers Ess. I. i. 3 An equivocal indication of merit.

c. Of a person: Expressing himself in equivocal terms.Apparently an isolated use.

ΚΠ

a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 253 As thou art a knaue and no knaue, what an equiuocall Companion is this?

a. Of uncertain nature; not admitting of being classified, ‘nondescript’. equivocal generation n. the (supposed) production of plants or animals without parents; spontaneous generation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > types of reproduction > [noun] > spontaneous

spontaneous generation1656

equivocal generation1658

heterogeny1863

autogeny1867

abiogenesis1870

autogony1870

archebiosis1872

abiogeny1874

archigony1876

plasmogeny1876

plasmogony1904

biopoesis1953

the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > not specific > not rendered specific > not characterized or nondescript

unqualified1603

equivocal1658

uncharacterized1701

neutral1755

nondescript1806

anonymous1937

1658 Sir T. Browne Garden of Cyrus iii, in Hydriotaphia: Urne-buriall 135 The Æquivocall production of things under undiscerned principles, makes a large part of generation.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. iv. §9 Born by the same æquivocall generation that mice and frogs are from the impregnated slime of the earth.

a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) iv. ii. 306 Whether those imperfect or equivocal Animals were created or no, it is not altogether clear.

1735 J. Swift Humble Addr. to Parl. in Wks. IV. 229 If any new ones [party and faction] shall spring up, they must be of equivocal Generation, without any Seed.

1790 Coll. Voy. round World I. ii. 29 The sea was tinged..with these equivocal substances.

1796 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening ii. 16 Equivocal generation we reject.

1830 W. Scott Lett. Demonol. & Witchcraft v. 143 The equivocal spirits called fairies.

1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man xx. 391 The old doctrine of equivocal or spontaneous generation.

b. Of sentiments, etc.: Undecided, not determined to either side. Chiefly in negative sentences.

ΘΚΠ

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

1791 E. Burke Corr. (1844) III. 219 I am sure the sentiments of London were not equivocal.

1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 139 The equivocal and half hostile attitude he had assumed.

Categories »

c. Music. equivocal chord: one which may be resolved into different keys without changing any of its tones.

4. Of advantages, merits, etc.: Dubiously genuine, questionable.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > [adjective]

openlOE

doubtousc1330

uncertain1338

doubtyc1380

brigousa1387

doubtablec1400

doubtfula1425

questionable1443

batable1453

strivablec1456

inquirable1485

litigious1520

doubtsomea1522

disputable1548

dubious1548

doubted?1551

moot1563

problematical1567

discussiblea1578

debatable1581

controversial1583

disputativea1586

debateful1587

decidable1596

controversible1601

controvertible1601

controversal1604

controversable1607

problematic1609

controversary1610

left-handed1610

disputed1611

dubitable1625

quarrellable1642

catchinga1670

non liquet1678

brigose1679

contestable1702

equivocala1797

controversional1807

contradictable1856

discutable1868

hinky1961

a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George III (1845) I. ii. 19 A Churchman..whose sanctity was as equivocal as their own.

1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella II. i. xix. 210 In the sciences, their success was more equivocal.

1847 B. Disraeli Tancred I. ii. vii. 185 Without that equivocal luxury a great country house.

1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 159 To set against this equivocal gain, the Romans had lost 700 ships.

5. Of persons, callings, tendencies, etc.: Doubtful in character or reputation; liable to unfavourable comment or description; questionable; suspicious.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > [adjective] > of doubtful reputation

queer?a1513

questionable1788

equivocal1790

shy1849

dingy1855

demi-reputable1897

off-white1951

1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 198 I shall always..consider that liberty as very equivocal in her appearance, which has not wisdom and justice for her companions.

1833 E. Bulwer-Lytton Godolphin I. v. 48 The equivocal mode of life he had entered upon.

1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola II. i. 13 The preparations for the equivocal guest.

†B. n.

An equivocal word or term; a homonym.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > homonymy > [noun] > homonym

equivocal1653

homonym1697

equivocate1881

1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. ix. 45 Æquivocals so absurd and witlesse that [etc.].

1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 17 Great variety of Equivocals. So the word Bill signifies both a Weapon, a Bird's Beak, and a written Scroul.

1707 J. Dennis Person of Quality's Answer in Crit. Wks. (1939) I. 130 Shall two or three wretched equivocals have the force to corrupt us?

1715 R. Bentley Serm. Popery 20 The scandalous shifts of Equivocals and Mental Restrictions.

1775 in J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. ; and in mod. Dicts.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	equivocal
释义	equivocaladj.n. /ɪˈkwɪvəkəl/ Forms: Also 1600s equivocall, æquivocall, 1600s–1800s æquivocal. Etymology: < late Latin aequivocus ambiguous ( < aequus equal + vocāre to call) + -al suffix¹. A. adj. †1. Equal or the same in name (with something else) but not in reality; having a name, without the qualities it implies; nominal. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > naming > [adjective] > named or called > without deserving the name named1532 improper1552 self-styled1640 equivocal1643 so-called1837 so-termed1843 so-styled1844 1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §12 This visible world is but a picture of the invisible, wherein, as in a pourtract, things are not truely, but in equivocall shapes. View more context for this quotation 1661 J. Ussher Power of Princes (1683) i. 34 They being subject to the over~sight..of the Ephori, were but equivocal Kings, such in name, but not in deed. 1744 G. Berkeley Siris (ESTC T72826) §210 From the sun's light, which is corporeal, there springs forth another equivocal light which is incorporeal. 2. a. Of words, phrases, etc.: Having different significations equally appropriate or plausible; capable of double interpretation; ambiguous. 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 1601–2 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law i. 68 Your libel..should be certaine, and without ambiguous or equiuocall tearmes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 216 These sentences to sugar, or to gall, Being strong on both sides, are equiuocall . View more context for this quotation 1656 A. Cowley Pindaric Odes Note 47 These vast accounts arose from the æquivocal term of a Year among them. 1712 F. Tanner Plainest, Easiest, & Prettiest Method Short-hand 25 Even in Long-Hand oftentimes equivocal Abbreviations are often written. 1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. IV. 48 He..takes care that his answers be so equivocal as always to secure him a retreat. 1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) VI. 187 There was perhaps no word in the language of more equivocal effect than the word or. 1868 W. E. Gladstone Juventus Mundi (1870) vii. 184 To say..that the Greek religion as it grew old improved..would be to use equivocal and misleading language. b. Of evidence, manifestations, etc.: Of uncertain bearing or significance. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [adjective] uncouthc897 uncertaina1325 non-certaina1425 unsurec1445 incertaina1492 uncert1543 ancipitous1652 unsecure?a1685 equivocal1769 problematical1770 screwed-up1942 1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. xxvii. 196 Some..less equivocal proofs of his munificence. 1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature V. 87 No very equivocal symptom of antiquity. 1842 H. Rogers Ess. I. i. 3 An equivocal indication of merit. c. Of a person: Expressing himself in equivocal terms.Apparently an isolated use. ΚΠ a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 253 As thou art a knaue and no knaue, what an equiuocall Companion is this? View more context for this quotation 3. a. Of uncertain nature; not admitting of being classified, ‘nondescript’. equivocal generation n. the (supposed) production of plants or animals without parents; spontaneous generation. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > types of reproduction > [noun] > spontaneous spontaneous generation1656 equivocal generation1658 heterogeny1863 autogeny1867 abiogenesis1870 autogony1870 archebiosis1872 abiogeny1874 archigony1876 plasmogeny1876 plasmogony1904 biopoesis1953 the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > not specific > not rendered specific > not characterized or nondescript unqualified1603 equivocal1658 uncharacterized1701 neutral1755 nondescript1806 anonymous1937 1658 Sir T. Browne Garden of Cyrus iii, in Hydriotaphia: Urne-buriall 135 The Æquivocall production of things under undiscerned principles, makes a large part of generation. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. iv. §9 Born by the same æquivocall generation that mice and frogs are from the impregnated slime of the earth. a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) iv. ii. 306 Whether those imperfect or equivocal Animals were created or no, it is not altogether clear. 1735 J. Swift Humble Addr. to Parl. in Wks. IV. 229 If any new ones [party and faction] shall spring up, they must be of equivocal Generation, without any Seed. 1790 Coll. Voy. round World I. ii. 29 The sea was tinged..with these equivocal substances. 1796 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening ii. 16 Equivocal generation we reject. 1830 W. Scott Lett. Demonol. & Witchcraft v. 143 The equivocal spirits called fairies. 1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man xx. 391 The old doctrine of equivocal or spontaneous generation. b. Of sentiments, etc.: Undecided, not determined to either side. Chiefly in negative sentences. ΘΚΠ 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 1791 E. Burke Corr. (1844) III. 219 I am sure the sentiments of London were not equivocal. 1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 139 The equivocal and half hostile attitude he had assumed. Categories » c. Music. equivocal chord: one which may be resolved into different keys without changing any of its tones. 4. Of advantages, merits, etc.: Dubiously genuine, questionable. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > [adjective] openlOE doubtousc1330 uncertain1338 doubtyc1380 brigousa1387 doubtablec1400 doubtfula1425 questionable1443 batable1453 strivablec1456 inquirable1485 litigious1520 doubtsomea1522 disputable1548 dubious1548 doubted?1551 moot1563 problematical1567 discussiblea1578 debatable1581 controversial1583 disputativea1586 debateful1587 decidable1596 controversible1601 controvertible1601 controversal1604 controversable1607 problematic1609 controversary1610 left-handed1610 disputed1611 dubitable1625 quarrellable1642 catchinga1670 non liquet1678 brigose1679 contestable1702 equivocala1797 controversional1807 contradictable1856 discutable1868 hinky1961 a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George III (1845) I. ii. 19 A Churchman..whose sanctity was as equivocal as their own. 1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella II. i. xix. 210 In the sciences, their success was more equivocal. 1847 B. Disraeli Tancred I. ii. vii. 185 Without that equivocal luxury a great country house. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 159 To set against this equivocal gain, the Romans had lost 700 ships. 5. Of persons, callings, tendencies, etc.: Doubtful in character or reputation; liable to unfavourable comment or description; questionable; suspicious. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > [adjective] > of doubtful reputation queer?a1513 questionable1788 equivocal1790 shy1849 dingy1855 demi-reputable1897 off-white1951 1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 198 I shall always..consider that liberty as very equivocal in her appearance, which has not wisdom and justice for her companions. View more context for this quotation 1833 E. Bulwer-Lytton Godolphin I. v. 48 The equivocal mode of life he had entered upon. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola II. i. 13 The preparations for the equivocal guest. †B. n. An equivocal word or term; a homonym. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > homonymy > [noun] > homonym equivocal1653 homonym1697 equivocate1881 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. ix. 45 Æquivocals so absurd and witlesse that [etc.]. 1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 17 Great variety of Equivocals. So the word Bill signifies both a Weapon, a Bird's Beak, and a written Scroul. 1707 J. Dennis Person of Quality's Answer in Crit. Wks. (1939) I. 130 Shall two or three wretched equivocals have the force to corrupt us? 1715 R. Bentley Serm. Popery 20 The scandalous shifts of Equivocals and Mental Restrictions. 1775 in J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. ; and in mod. Dicts. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.n.1601
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