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equivocate. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
equivocate, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
equivocate in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
equivocate you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Late Middle English equivocaten, from Medieval Latin aequivocātus, perfect passive participle of aequivocō (“I am called by the same name”), from Late Latin aequivocus (“ambiguous, equivocal”). Compare French équivoquer.
Pronunciation
Verb
equivocate (third-person singular simple present equivocates, present participle equivocating, simple past and past participle equivocated)
- (intransitive) To speak using double meaning; to speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, with intent to deceive.
- Synonyms: prevaricate, evade, shuffle, quibble, adumbrate
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 137, column 1:Knock. Knock, knock. Who's there in th'other Deuils Name? Faith here's an Equiuocator, that could ſweare in both the Scales againſt eyther Scale, who committed Treaſon enough for Gods ſake, yet could not equiuocate to Heauen: oh come in, Equiuocator.
1687, Edward Stillingfleet, The Unreasonableness of Separation: Or, An Impartial Account of the History, Nature and Pleas of the Present Separation from the Communion of the Church of England:All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate.
- (transitive) To render equivocal or ambiguous.
1647, George Buck, Reign of Richard the Third:He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation
Derived terms
Translations
to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive
to render equivocal or ambiguous
See also
Further reading
Italian
Etymology 1
Verb
equivocate
- inflection of equivocare:
- second-person plural present indicative
- second-person plural imperative
Etymology 2
Participle
equivocate f pl
- feminine plural of equivocato
Spanish
Verb
equivocate
- second-person singular voseo imperative of equivocar combined with te