different between provisional vs equivocal

English

Etymology

From Middle French provisionnal (compare French provisionnel).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???v???n?l/

Adjective

provisional (not comparable)

1. Temporary, but with the intention of eventually becoming permanent or being replaced by a permanent equivalent.

Synonyms

• provisionary

Derived terms

• nonprovisional
• provisionality
• provisionally
• provisionalness

Translations

Noun

provisional (plural provisionals)

1. (philately) A postage stamp issued locally before an official issue is released.

   Synonym: provisory

2. (dentistry) An interim denture.
   • 2015, Stuart J. Froum, Dental Implant Complications (page 518)

     If this was not possible, then alternatives including provisionalizing with a complete denture or a tooth-supported fixed provisional and a staged treatment protocol should have been considered.

Translations

Catalan

Etymology

From provisió +? -al.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /p?o.vi.zi.o?nal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /p?u.bi.zi.u?nal/
• Rhymes: -al

Adjective

provisional (masculine and feminine plural provisionals)

1. provisional

   Synonym: provisori

Derived terms

• provisionalitat
• provisionalment

Further reading

• “provisional” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Spanish

Etymology

From provisión +? -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?obisjo?nal/, [p?o.??i.sjo?nal]

Adjective

provisional (plural provisionales)

1. provisional

   Synonym: provisorio

2. makeshift

Derived terms

• provisionalidad
• provisionalmente

Further reading

• “provisional” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.

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)

1. A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term.

   Synonyms: double entendre, equivoque

Translations

Adjective

equivocal (comparative more equivocal, superlative most equivocal)

1. 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.

2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.
3. 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.