Prevaricate vs Equivocal - What's the difference?
prevaricate | equivocal |
(transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To deviate, transgress; to go astray (from).
To shift or turn from direct speech or behaviour; to evade the truth; to waffle or be (intentionally) ambiguous.
(legal) To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.
(legal, UK) To undertake something falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
Having two or more equally applicable meanings; capable of double or multiple interpretation; ambiguous; uncertain.
* Jeffrey
Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected.
* Milton
Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful, incongruous.
* Burke
As a verb prevaricate
is (transitive|intransitive|obsolete) to deviate, transgress; to go astray (from).As a noun equivocal is
a word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.As a adjective equivocal is
(literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) having two or more significations equally applicable; capable of double or multiple interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as, equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.prevaricate
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Verb
(prevaricat)- The people saw the politician prevaricate every day.
Derived terms
* prevarication * prevaricatorSee also
* lie ----equivocal
English
(Webster 1913)Alternative forms
* (rare)Synonyms
* double entendreAdjective
(en adjective)- equivocal''' words; an '''equivocal sentence
- For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes.
- His actions are equivocal .
- equivocal repentances
- How equivocal a test.