Univocal

/juːnɪˈvəʊkəl/ · adjective

Meaning

(rhetoric) Having only one possible meaning..

Definitions by Sense

1. (rhetoric) Having only one possible meaning.
2. Containing instances of only one vowel; univocalic.
3. Having unison of sound, as the octave has in music.
4. Having always the same drift or tenor; uniform; certain; regular.
5. Unequivocal; indubitable.
6. A word having only one meaning.
7. A document containing instances of only one vowel.

Example Sentences

There were, he argued, some words, such as ‘fat’ or ‘exhausted’, that could not apply to God, but if such terms as ‘being’, ‘goodness’ or ‘wisdom’ were not univocal of God and creatures, ‘one could not naturally have any concept of God – which is false.’

Eunoia is a univocal lipogram — an anomalous narrative, in which each vowel appears by itself in its own chapter, telling a story in its own voice.

I read through the dictionary five times to extract an extensive lexicon of univocal words containing only one of the five vowels.

The book's main conceit is to make poetry from univocal words (words containing just one vowel) […]

But I am much pleased at the repetition of the divine favour to you in the like instances; that God hath given you another testimony of his love to your person, and care of your family ; it is an engagement to you of new degrees of duty, which you cannot but superadde to the former, because the principle is genuine and prolific, and all the emanations of grace are univocal and alike.

It is not indeed impossible, that from the sperm of a cock, hen, or other animal, being once in putrescence, either from incubation or otherwise, some generation may ensue; not univocal and of the same species, but some imperfect or monstrous production […]

There is no blessed soul goes to heaven but he makes a general joy in all the mansions where the saints do dwell, and in all the chapels where the angels sing ; and the joys of religion are not univocal, but productive of rare and accidental and preternatural pleasures ; for the music of holy hymns delights the ear and refreshes the spirit, and makes the very bones of the saints to rejoice.

These scenarios should not be seen as unambiguous, univocal solutions, and it would be wrong to treat any of them as such; rather, they are just meant to spell out a range of possibilities.

Synonyms for univocal

Antonyms for univocal

Related Words

Word Forms

• univocals

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions