Equivocate vs Trifle - What's the difference?
equivocate | trifle | Related terms |
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.
To render equivocal or ambiguous.
An English dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream.
An insignificant amount.
* {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
, title=Well Tackled!
, chapter=17 Anything that is of little importance or worth.
* Shakespeare
* Drayton
A particular kind of pewter.
(uncountable) Utensils made from this particular kind of pewter.
To deal with something as if it were of little importance or worth.
To act, speak, or otherwise behave with jest.
To inconsequentially toy with something.
To squander or waste.
In intransitive terms the difference between equivocate and trifle
is that equivocate is 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 while trifle is to inconsequentially toy with something.As a noun trifle is
an English dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream.equivocate
English
(Webster 1913)Alternative forms
* (archaic)Verb
(equivocat)- All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate . -.
- He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. -.
Synonyms
* prevaricate * evade * shuffle * quibble * dodge * adumbrateSee also
* prevaricateExternal links
* ----trifle
English
Noun
citation, passage=Commander Birch was a trifle uneasy when he found there was more than a popple on the sea; it was, in fact, distinctly choppy. Strictly speaking, he ought to have been following up the picket–boat, but he was satisfied that the circumstances were sufficiently urgent for him to take risks.}}
- Trifles light as air / Are to the jealous confirmation strong / As proofs of holy writ.
- with such poor trifles playing