equivocate

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

Etymology

From Late Middle English equivocaten, from Medieval Latin aequivocātus, perfect passive participle of aequivocō (“to be called by the same name”), from Late Latin aequivocus (“ambiguous, equivocal”). Compare French équivoque.

In classic literature

Synonyms

beat around the bush, tergiversate, prevaricate, palter

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