different between dubious vs equivocal
dubious
English
Etymology
From Latin dubius; like doubt, from Latin duo (cognate to English two), implying “two alternatives” (yes or no, true or false, etc.).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /?dju?bi.?s/
- (US) IPA(key): /?du.bi.?s/
- Rhymes: -u?bi?s
Adjective
dubious (comparative more dubious, superlative most dubious)
- (of a statement) Arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion.
- 2011, Nigel Jones, "A Tale of Two Scandals", History Today, February 2011, Vol. 61 Issue 2, pages 10–17
- Evasive, womanising, boastful, malicious, untrustworthy, an inveterate gambler who combined his mediocre military career with running a high-class brothel, permanently cash strapped and viciously quarrelsome, his character is as dubious as his unsavoury appearance.
- 2011, Nigel Jones, "A Tale of Two Scandals", History Today, February 2011, Vol. 61 Issue 2, pages 10–17
- (of a person) In disbelief; wavering, uncertain, or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt; undecided.
- She was dubious about my plan at first, but later I managed to persuade her to cooperate.
- 2010, John M. Broder, "Global Climate-Change Talks Begin in Cancun With More Modest Expectations", New York Times, November 30, Section A, Column 0, Foreign Desk, page 12
- Last year, President Obama had large majorities in Congress and hopes of passing a comprehensive climate and energy bill. Next year, he faces a new Congress much more dubious about the reality of climate change and considerably more hostile to international efforts to deal with it.
- (chess, chiefly of an opening move) Generally considered imprecise or wrong, but not totally unplayable.
Usage notes
Largely synonymous with doubtful, when used of statements or facts, dubious is used when the statement is a cause of doubt, while doubtful is used when a fact is in doubt. For example, “the company’s earnings report was dubious” vs. “his chances for recovery are doubtful”.
Derived terms
- dubious honor / dubious honour
- dubiously
- dubiousness
Translations
See also
- doubtful
- doubt
References
See also
- (?)
dubious From the web:
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equivocal
English
Alternative forms
- æquivocal (rare, obsolete)
Etymology
From Late Latin aequivocus +? -al, from aequus +? voc?.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /??kw?v?k?l/
- (US) IPA(key): /??kw?v?k(?)l/
- hyphenation UK: equivo?cal
Noun
equivocal (plural equivocals)
- A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term.
- Synonyms: double entendre, equivoque
Translations
Adjective
equivocal (comparative more equivocal, superlative most equivocal)
- Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation.
- Synonyms: ambiguous, indeterminate
- Antonyms: unequivocal, univocal
- 1817, William Hazlitt, Characters of Shakespeare's Plays
- For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes.
- Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.
- Uncertain, as an indication or sign.
- Synonyms: uncertain, doubtful, incongruous
- Antonym: certain
- 1796, Edmund Burke, a letter to a noble lord
- How equivocal a test.
Derived terms
- equivocality
- equivocalness
Related terms
- equivocation
- equivoque
Translations
Further reading
- equivocal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- equivocal in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
equivocal From the web:
- what equivocal means
- equivocal what does it mean
- what does equivocal test result mean
- what does equivocal mean in medical terms
- what does equivocal mean in a blood test
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- what does equivocal hsv 2 mean
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