different between ambivalence vs neutrality

English

Etymology

From German Ambivalenz (“simultaneous conflicting feelings”), from Latin ambo (“both”) and valentia (“strength”), from the verb valere (“to be strong”) (see valiant). The German term was coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1910; by 1929, it had taken on a broader literary and general sense.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /æm?b?v?l?ns/

Noun

ambivalence (countable and uncountable, plural ambivalences)

1. The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea.
   • 1952, Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man, Prologue:

     "I dearly loved my master, son," she said.

     "You should have hated him," I said.

     "He gave me several sons," she said, "and because I loved my sons I learned to love their father though I hated him too."

     "I too have become acquainted with ambivalence, I said.

2. A state of uncertainty or indecisiveness.

Usage notes

This word is often used to express a lack of concern about the outcome of a choice to be made. In this case, a more appropriate word to use is indifference.

Related terms

• ambivalent

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.bi.va.l??s/

Noun

ambivalence f (plural ambivalences)

1. ambivalence
2. ambiguity

English

Etymology

From Middle French neutralité, from Medieval Latin neutralitas

Morphologically neutral +? -ity

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /nju??t?æl?ti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /nu?t?æl?ti/

Noun

neutrality (usually uncountable, plural neutralities)

1. The state or quality of being neutral; the condition of being unengaged in contests between others; state of taking no part on either side.
   • 1709, Joseph Addison, The Tatler.

     Men who possess a state of neutrality in times of public danger, desert the interest of their fellow subjects.

   Synonyms: indifferent, on the fence

2. (obsolete) Indifference in quality; a state neither very good nor bad.
   • 1611, John Donne, An Anatomy of the World

     There is no health; physicians say that we
     At best enjoy but a neutrality.

3. (chemistry): The quality or state of being neutral.
4. (international law) The condition of a nation or government which refrains from taking part, directly or indirectly, in a war between other powers.
5. Those who are neutral; a combination of neutral powers or states.

Translations

See also

• net neutrality
• network neutrality
• internet neutrality
• NN