different between conflate vs equivocate

English

Etymology

Attested since 1541: borrowed from Latin c?nfl?tus, from c?nfl? (“fuse, melt, or blow together”); c?n (“with, together”) + fl? (“blow”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /k?n?fle?t/, /k?n?fle?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /k?n?fle?t/
• Rhymes: -e?t

Verb

conflate (third-person singular simple present conflates, present participle conflating, simple past and past participle conflated)

1. To bring (things) together and fuse (them) into a single entity.

   Synonyms: fuse, meld

2. To mix together different elements.

   Synonyms: mix, blend, coalesce, commingle, flux, immix, merge, amalgamate

3. (by extension) To fail to properly distinguish or keep separate (things); to mistakenly treat (them) as equivalent.

   Synonyms: confuse, mix up, lump together

Related terms

• conflation

Translations

Adjective

conflate (not comparable)

1. (biblical criticism) Combining elements from multiple versions of the same text.
   • 1999, Emanuel Tov, The Greek and Hebrew Bible: Collected Essays on the Septuagint:

     Why the redactor created this conflate version, despite its inconsistencies, is a matter of conjecture.

Noun

conflate (plural conflates)

1. (biblical criticism) A conflate text, one which conflates multiple version of a text together.

References

Anagrams

• falconet, lactofen

Latin

Verb

c?nfl?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of c?nfl?

English

Alternative forms

• æquivocate (archaic)

Etymology

From Medieval Latin aequivoc?tus, perfect passive participle of aequivoc? (“I am called by the same name”), from Late Latin aequivocus (“ambiguous, equivocal”): compare French équivoquer. See equivocal.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??kw?v??ke?t/

Verb

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

1. (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.
   • 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.

2. To render equivocal or ambiguous.

Synonyms

• prevaricate
• evade
• shuffle
• quibble
• dodge
• adumbrate

Translations

See also

• prevaricate

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “equivocate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Italian

Verb

equivocate

1. second-person plural present indicative of equivocare
2. second-person plural imperative of equivocare
3. feminine plural of equivocato