EQUIVOCATE

Etymology

Verb

equivocate (third-person singular simple present equivocates, present participle equivocating, simple past and past participle equivocated)

(intransitive) To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity.

To render equivocal or ambiguous.

Synonyms

• prevaricate

• evade

• shuffle

• quibble

• dodge

• adumbrate

Source: Wiktionary

E*quiv"o*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Equivocated; p. pr. & vb. n. Equivocating.] Etym: [L. aequivocatus, p. p. of aequivocari to be called by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus: cf. F. équivoquer. See Equivocal, a.]

Definition: To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity. All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate. Bp. Stillingfleet.

Syn.

– To prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate.

E*quiv"o*cate, v. t.

Definition: To render equivocal or ambiguous. He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. Sir G. Buck.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition