equivocate vs tergiversate what difference
what is difference between equivocate and tergiversate
English
Alternative forms
- æquivocate (archaic)
Etymology
From Medieval Latin aequivocātus, perfect passive participle of aequivocō (“I am called by the same name”), from Late Latin aequivocus (“ambiguous, equivocal”): compare French équivoquer. See equivocal.
Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/
Verb
equivocate (third-person singular simple present equivocates, present participle equivocating, simple past and past participle equivocated)
- (intransitive) To speak using double meaning; to speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, with intent to deceive
- 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
- 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
- (transitive) To render equivocal or ambiguous.
Synonyms
- (speak ambiguously): prevaricate, evade, shuffle, quibble, adumbrate
Translations
See also
- prevaricate
Further reading
- Douglas Harper (2001–2021), “equivocate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- equivocate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
Italian
Verb
equivocate
- inflection of equivocare:
- second-person plural present indicative
- second-person plural imperative
- feminine plural of equivocato
English
Etymology
From Latin tergiversor (“turn one’s back, make excuses”); from tergum (“the back”) + versō, frequentative of vertō (“turn”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtɜːdʒɪvəseɪt/
- (US) enPR: tər-jɪv’ər-sāt, IPA(key): /tɝˈdʒɪvɝseɪt/
Verb
tergiversate (third-person singular simple present tergiversates, present participle tergiversating, simple past and past participle tergiversated)
- (intransitive) To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.
- (intransitive) To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize.
- (intransitive, rare) To flee by turning one’s back.
Synonyms
- (to evade, obfuscate): prevaricate, beat around the bush
- (to change sides): desert
Derived terms
- tergiversation
Translations
Italian
Verb
tergiversate
- inflection of tergiversare:
- second-person plural present indicative
- second-person plural imperative
- feminine plural of tergiversato
Anagrams
- gravitereste
Latin
Participle
tergiversāte
- vocative masculine singular of tergiversātus
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