different between equivocate vs equivocally

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

English

Etymology

equivocal +? -ly

Adverb

equivocally (comparative more equivocally, superlative most equivocally)

1. With ambiguity.
2. With uncertainty.

Related terms

• equivocal
• equivocate