Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The character of being equivocal; ambiguity; double meaning.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The state of being equivocal.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being equivocal; ambiguity

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Nietzsche grew to loathe so intensely in Wagner, — viz., his pronounced histrionic tendencies, his dissembling powers, his inordinate vanity, his equivocalness, his falseness.

    Thus spake Zarathustra; A book for all and none 2001

  • A day or two afterwards, chancing in the evening promenade on a gun deck to pass Billy, he offered a flying word of good-fellowship, as it were, which by its unexpectedness, and equivocalness under the circumstances so embarrassed Billy that he knew not how to respond to it, and let it go unnoticed.

    Billy Budd 1924

  • The dialogue between Zarathustra and the Magician reveals pretty fully what it was that Nietzsche grew to loathe so intensely in Wagner, -- viz., his pronounced histrionic tendencies, his dissembling powers, his inordinate vanity, his equivocalness, his falseness.

    Thus Spake Zarathustra A book for all and none Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche 1872

  • I observed, with dissatisfaction, the growing intercourse between you, reflecting on the equivocalness of his character, and the attempt he would probably make to render you the dupe of his hypocrisy.

    Caleb Williams Or Things as They Are William Godwin 1796

  • This equivocalness, however, can be easily shown to rest on the peculiar fact that there are cases of doubtful right, for the decision of which no judge can be appointed.

    The Science of Right 1790

  • Whilst there are assertions for power traits much as a temperament for equivocalness and intolerance to conformity, much traits are hornlike to refer and are not steady or transferable crossways situations.

    xml's Blinklist.com 2008

  • William Tell and Gessler's cap), not improbably testifies to equivocalness even at that late date.

    From Sail to Steam, Recollections of Naval Life 1877

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