If we take a high vowel, such as (i) [= nearly i of bit], and devocalize it, we obtain a hiss which is quite distinct enough to stand for a weak (jh). H. Sweet. [1913 Webster]

For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes. Jeffrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as, his actions are equivocal. “Equivocal repentances.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful. “How equivocal a test.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Equivocal chord (Mus.), a chord which can be resolved into several distinct keys; one whose intervals, being all minor thirds, do not clearly indicate its fundamental tone or root; the chord of the diminished triad, and the diminished seventh.

Syn. -- Ambiguous; doubtful; uncertain; indeterminate. -- Equivocal, Ambiguous. We call an expression ambiguous when it has one general meaning, and yet contains certain words which may be taken in two different senses; or certain clauses which can be so connected with other clauses as to divide the mind between different views of part of the meaning intended. We call an expression equivocal when, taken as a whole, it conveys a given thought with perfect clearness and propriety, and also another thought with equal propriety and clearness. Such were the responses often given by the Delphic oracle; as that to Crœsus when consulting about a war with Persia: “If you cross the Halys, you will destroy a great empire.” This he applied to the Persian empire, which lay beyond that river, and, having crossed, destroyed his own empire in the conflict. What is ambiguous is a mere blunder of language; what is equivocal is usually intended to deceive, though it may occur at times from mere inadvertence. Equivocation is applied only to cases where there is a design to deceive. [ 1913 Webster ]

In languages of great ductility, equivocals like that just referred to are rarely found. Fitzed. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- n. A multivocal word. [ R. ] Fitzed. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having unison of sound, as the octave in music. See Unison, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having always the same drift or tenor; uniform; certain; regular. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Unequivocal; indubitable. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A word having but one meaning. [ 1913 Webster ]

How is sin univocally distinguished into venial and mortal, if the venial be not sin? Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade,
Made vocal by my song. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Uttered or modulated by the voice; oral; as, vocal melody; vocal prayer. “Vocal worship.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to a vowel or voice sound; also, spoken with tone, intonation, and resonance; sonant; sonorous; -- said of certain articulate sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Phon.) (a) Consisting of, or characterized by, voice, or tone produced in the larynx, which may be modified, either by resonance, as in the case of the vowels, or by obstructive action, as in certain consonants, such as v, l, etc., or by both, as in the nasals m, n, ng; sonant; intonated; voiced. See Voice, and Vowel, also Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 199-202. (b) Of or pertaining to a vowel; having the character of a vowel; vowel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vocal cords or
Vocal chords. n. pl. (Anat.) The two pairs of mucous membranes that project into the larynx, and which produce the sounds of speech by vibrating under the influence of air exhaled from the lungs. See Larynx, and the Note under Voice, n., 1. --
Vocal fremitus [ L. fremitus a dull roaring or murmuring ] (Med.), the perceptible vibration of the chest wall, produced by the transmission of the sonorous vibrations during the act of using the voice. --
Vocal music, music made by the voice, in distinction from instrumental music; hence, music or tunes set to words, to be performed by the human voice. --
Vocal tube (Anat.), the part of the air passages above the inferior ligaments of the larynx, including the passages through the nose and mouth. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Phon.) A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic; -- distinguished from a subvocal, and a nonvocal. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (R. C. Ch.) A man who has a right to vote in certain elections. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Gaelic language being uncommonly vocalic. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A vocalic sound. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The quality of being a vowel; vocalic character. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The formation and utterance of vocal sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is one thing to give an impulse to breath alone, another thing to vocalize that breath. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To practice singing on the vowel sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In words; verbally; as, to express desires vocally. [ 1913 Webster ]