equivocation

English

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• æquivocation (archaic)

Etymology

c. 1380, from Old French equivocation, from Medieval Latin aequivocātiōnem, accusative singular of aequivocātiō, from aequivocō, from Late Latin aequivocus (“ambiguous, equivocal”), from Latin aequus (“equal”) + vocō (“call”); a calque of Ancient Greek ὁμωνυμία (homōnumia).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

equivocation (plural equivocations)

1. (logic) A logical fallacy resulting from the use of multiple meanings of a single expression.
2. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, possibly intentionally and with the aim of misleading.

Related terms

• amphiboly, evasion, evasiveness, prevarication

Translations

Expression susceptible of a double signification, possibly misleading

• Bulgarian: двусмислица (bg) (dvusmislica) f

• French: équivoque (fr) f, quiproquo (fr) m
• Swedish: tvetydighet (sv)

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Old French

Noun

equivocation f (oblique plural equivocations, nominative singular equivocation, nominative plural equivocations)

1. equivocation
   • Si avoit trovee occasion de li gaber par l'equivocation de son nom