ambivalence

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from German Ambivalenz (“simultaneous conflicting feelings”), from Latin ambi- (“both”) and valentia (“strength”), from the verb valere (“to be strong”) (see valiant); spelled on the model of French-origin words ending in -ence. The German term was coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1910; by 1929, it had taken on a broader literary and general sense. Equivalent to ambi- +‎ valence. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /æmˈbɪvələns/ === Noun === ambivalence (countable and uncountable, plural ambivalences) The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea. A state of uncertainty or indecisiveness. ==== Usage notes ==== This word is often used to express a lack of concern about the outcome of a choice to be made. In this case, a more appropriate word to use is indifference. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ambivalent ==== Translations ==== == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from German Ambivalenz. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɑ̃.bi.va.lɑ̃s/ === Noun === ambivalence f (plural ambivalences) ambivalence ambiguity ==== Related terms ==== ambivalent === Further reading === “ambivalence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012