equivocate
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (1)equivocated, equivocating
- be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold informationSynonyms: beat around the bushtergiversateprevaricatepalterMore general misinform, mislead
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onerousadjective
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
E·quiv′o·cate intransitive verb [past tense & past participle Equivocated; present participle & verbal noun Equivocating.]
Origin: L. aequivocatus, p. p. of aequivocari to be called by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus: cf. F. équivoquer. See Equivocal, adjective
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. Edward Stillingfleet
Synonyms: To prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate.
E·quiv′o·cate transitive verb
To render equivocal or ambiguous.
He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation.— Sir George Buck
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54