equivocal
曖昧な
解説 Definition
意味が曖昧で複数の解釈が可能なさま。はっきりしないこと。
Equivocal means unclear or able to be understood in more than one way. It is often used for statements, answers, or evidence that do not show a direct or definite meaning.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
equal / equivalent の equi- を見たら「同等で、どちら側にも振れそう」という感覚を思い出すと覚えやすい。equivocal は an equivocal answer / statement / response や equivocal evidence の形でよく出て、「はっきりYES/NOを示さず、複数に取れる」曖昧さを表す。vague が単にぼんやりなら、equivocal は言い方や証拠がどちらにも読める曖昧さ。equivalent と形が似ているが意味は別物。
The prefix `equi-` means `equal`, so `equivocal` suggests something that can point equally in more than one direction. Use the phrase `an equivocal answer` to remember a reply that does not clearly choose one side. It is different from `vague`: `equivocal` often means the words or evidence can be read in two ways.
例文
The politician gave an equivocal answer that satisfied neither side of the debate.
その政治家は曖昧な回答をし、議論のどちら側も満足させなかった。
The test results were equivocal, so the doctor ordered further examination.
検査結果が曖昧だったため、医師はさらなる検査を指示した。
His equivocal stance on the issue made voters question his sincerity.
その問題に対する彼の曖昧な姿勢は、有権者に彼の誠実さを疑わせた。
equivocal の類義語・関連語
equivocal の語源・成り立ち Etymology
equivocal はラテン語 aequivocus に由来し、aequi-「等しい」＋ voc-「声・呼ぶ」が語源です。もともと「同じ呼び名で二通りに言える」が原義なので、そこから「どちらとも取れる」「曖昧な」という意味になりました。関連語は equivocate、vocal です。
Equivocal comes from Latin aequivocus, from aequi- meaning "equal" and vox/voc- meaning "voice" or "call." It first suggested something called by the same name in more than one way. From that idea, it developed the sense of language that can be understood in two different ways, so it came to mean "ambiguous."
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