Ambiguous, Ambivalent, Amphibious, Ambulant

Ambi- is a prefix in the formation of words like ambiguous, ambivalent, ambiguous, ambidextrous, ambivert and others. Ambi- as a prefix means on both sides, both. Ambi- is a Latin word meaning in two ways.

Ambiguous is an adjective meaning to have more than one meaning, something that is open to two or more interpretations or meanings, when more than one or two answers are coming out in the place of one; of uncertain nature, without clarity; having more than one possible meaning.

Ambiguous means equivocal, forked indeterminate; evasive.

When you take an ambiguous stand on ethics or morals it means you are not clear, you are not sending out clear a message that is easy to interpret or understand for the other person.

The derivatives of ambiguous are ambiguity and ambiguousness (nouns), ambiguously (adverb).

Teachers are trained to give unambiguous instructions.

Few people deliberately speak with ambiguity (whose meaning is not easy to understand, unclear).

Ambiguation is a noun and its opposite is disambiguation. When something is without disambiguation such as a reference material, or an information about someone.

When you disambiguate an article it means you are stating or explaining things unambiguously, removing ambiguities.

Because language is often used ambiguously either knowingly or unknowingly, there is also a disambiguator. It is an application that processes language in order to determine the meaning of a word or phrase in the context it is used.

Ambivalent means to be uncertain, unable to decide what exactly to do or in which way to act; having this feeling and that feeling; to have mixed feelings (she has ambivalent feelings for him: meaning she loves him and hates him).

The opposite of ambivalent is certain, sure.

Ambivalent is an adjective, and ambivalently is an adverb, ambivalence is a noun.

Ambivalence comes from the German word ‘ambivalent’: be strong in two ways.

Ambulant means someone in a position to walk about, having the mobility.

Ambulant comes from the Latin word ‘ambulare’ meaning to walk. Science is assisting physically-challenged people to be ambulant that is to be mobile.

The opposite of ambulant is immobile.

The derivatives of ambulant is ambulatory and ambulation (nouns), ambulate (having the ability to walk, not bedridden).

Ambulatory plague is a type of bubonic plague but milder.

Amphibious (adjective) means having the ability to be on the land and in the water. What are the amphibious creatures? Frogs, snakes, crocodiles…

Animals that can live both on land and in water are called amphibians.

Ambidextrous people are those who can use both hands.

Are you ambidextrous?

By: Kovuuri G Reddy