Arcane vs Equivocal - What's the difference?
arcane | equivocal |
Understood by only a few; obscure; requiring secret or mysterious knowledge.
* 1997 : Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault'', page 67, ''The Renaissance Episteme (Totem Books, Icon Books; ISBN 1840460865)
Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation; ambiguous; uncertain.
* Jeffrey
Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.
* Milton
Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful, incongruous.
* Burke
As adjectives the difference between arcane and equivocal
is that arcane is understood by only a few; obscure; requiring secret or mysterious knowledge while equivocal is having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation; ambiguous; uncertain.As a noun equivocal is
a word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.arcane
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- A “signature” was placed on all things by God to indicate their affinities — but it was hidden, hence the search for arcane' knowledge. Knowing was '''guessing''' and ' interpreting , not observing or demonstrating.
Synonyms
* esoteric * recondite * clandestineAntonyms
* mundaneReferences
* * * ----equivocal
English
(Webster 1913)Alternative forms
* (rare)Synonyms
* double entendreAdjective
(en adjective)- equivocal''' words; an '''equivocal sentence
- For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes.
- His actions are equivocal .
- equivocal repentances
- How equivocal a test.