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Equivocal vs Sure - What's the difference?

equivocal | sure |

As adjectives the difference between equivocal and sure

is that equivocal is having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation; ambiguous; uncertain while sure is physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.

As a noun equivocal

is a word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.

As an adverb sure is

without doubt.

As an interjection sure is

yes, of course.

equivocal

English

(Webster 1913)

Alternative forms

* (rare)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.

    • Synonyms

    * double entendre

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation; ambiguous; uncertain.
    • equivocal''' words; an '''equivocal sentence
  • * Jeffrey
    • 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.
    • His actions are equivocal .
  • * Milton
    • equivocal repentances
  • Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful, incongruous.
  • * Burke
    • How equivocal a test.

    Synonyms

    * ambiguous, doubtful, uncertain, indeterminate

    Antonyms

    * unequivocal * (l)

    Derived terms

    * equivocalness

    Related terms

    * equivocation * equivoque

    External links

    * *

    sure

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.
  • Certain in one's knowledge or belief.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.}}
  • Certain to act or be a specified way.
  • (obsolete) Free from danger; safe; secure.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off; / If we recover that we are sure enough.
  • (obsolete) Betrothed; engaged to marry.
  • * Sir T. More
    • The king was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God.
  • * Brome
    • I presume that you had been sure as fast as faith could bind you, man and wife.

    Synonyms

    * (secure and steadfast) certain, failsafe, reliable * (sense, steadfast in one's knowledge or belief) certain, positive, wis

    Derived terms

    * for sure * surely * sure up (sure)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Without doubt.
    • Sure he's coming! Why wouldn't he?
    "Did you kill that bear yourself? ?"I sure did!"

    Usage notes

    * Often proscribed in favor of surely. May be informal.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (rft-sense) Yes, of course.

    • Synonyms

    * certainly, of course, OK, yes

    References

    * 1996, T.F. Hoad, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Etymology , Oxford University Press, ISBN 0192830988

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