Equivocate

  • 1Equivocate — E*quiv o*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Equivocated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Equivocating}.] [L. aequivocatus, p. p. of aequivocari to be called by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus: cf. F. [ e]quivoquer. See {Equivocal}, a.] To use words of equivocal or… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Equivocate — E*quiv o*cate, v. t. To render equivocal or ambiguous. [1913 Webster] He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. Sir G. Buck. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3equivocate — I verb avoid a straight answer, be ambiguous, be false, be unclear, be untruthful, be vague, deceive, disguise, dissemble, dissimulate, dodge, elude, evade, fence, hedge, lie, misguide, misinform, mislead, misrepresent, misstate, mystify, palter …

    Law dictionary

  • 4equivocate — early 15c., equivocaten, from M.L. equivocatus, pp. of equivocare to call by the same name, from L.L. aequivocus (see EQUIVOCATION (Cf. equivocation)). Related: Equivocated; equivocating …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5equivocate — prevaricate, *lie, palter, fib Analogous words: *deceive, mislead, delude: evade, elude, *escape …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 6equivocate — [v] avoid an issue beat around the bush*, beg the question*, blow hot and cold*, cavil, cloud the issue*, con, cop a plea*, cop out*, cover up*, dodge, double talk, elude, escape, eschew, evade, falsify, fence, fib, flipflop*, fudge*, give run… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7equivocate — ► VERB ▪ use ambiguous or evasive language. DERIVATIVES equivocation noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8equivocate — [ē kwiv′ə kāt΄, ikwiv′ə kāt΄] vi. equivocated, equivocating [ME equivocaten < ML aequivocatus, pp. of aequivocari, to have the same sound < LL aequivocus, of like sound < L aequus (see EQUAL) + vox, VOICE] to use equivocal terms in order …

    English World dictionary

  • 9equivocate — verb /ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/ a) To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express ones 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… …

    Wiktionary

  • 10equivocate — UK [ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt] / US [ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt] verb [intransitive] Word forms equivocate : present tense I/you/we/they equivocate he/she/it equivocates present participle equivocating past tense equivocated past participle equivocated formal to avoid… …

    English dictionary