different between ambiguous vs ambisexual

English

Etymology

From Latin ambiguus (“moving from side to side, of doubtful nature”), from ambigere (“to go about, wander, doubt”), from ambi- (“around, about, on both sides”) + agere (“to drive, move”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /æm?b??ju?s/

Adjective

ambiguous (comparative more ambiguous, superlative most ambiguous)

1. Open to multiple interpretations.

   Synonym: equivocal

   Antonym: unambiguous

2. (obsolete, of persons) Hesitant; uncertain; not taking sides.
   • 1662 Thomas Salusbury

     And forasmuch as in this same question I am ambiguous, and Simplicius is resolute....

Related terms

• ambages
• ambiguity
• ambiguate
• ambiguation
• disambiguation

Translations

See also

• contradictory
• mistakable
• confusing

Further reading

• ambiguous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ambiguous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “ambiguous”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

English

Etymology

ambi- +? -sexual; in modern senses relating to human sexuality, influenced by bisexual.

Pronunciation

Adjective

ambisexual (comparative more ambisexual, superlative most ambisexual)

1. (zoology) Hermaphroditic.
   • 2012, U. Müller, ?W. Franke, Mechanisms of Gonadal Differentiation in Vertebrates (page 84)

     However, the question must be asked: at which stage in the life-history of an ambisexual (hermaphroditic) fish does sex differentiation take place?

2. Bisexual: attracted to persons of either sex.
3. Unisex: fit for persons of either sex.
4. (slang) Of ambiguous sexual orientation.

Derived terms

• ambisexuality
• ambisexually

Noun

ambisexual (plural ambisexuals)

1. An ambisexual person.

See also

• ambiguous
• bisexual
• metrosexual
• androgynous