ScienceAugust 30, 2026
polysemous
pah-lee-SEE-mus
Definition
Having or characterized by multiple related meanings or interpretations.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek words 'poly' (many) and 'sēma' (sign or meaning). It entered English in the 19th century as a technical term in linguistics to describe words or signs that hold more than one definition.
In the news
Pangal uses this term to describe how a single gesture, like an open palm, can carry different meanings depending on the context and the participants involved. This is central to her argument that we should avoid assigning a single, fixed dictionary definition to canine-directed gestures.
A new paper offers valuable advice on studying human-dog interactions.
Read the full article ↗Psychology Today