equivocation

equivocation
/i kwiv'euh kay"sheuhn/, n.
1. the use of equivocal or ambiguous expressions, esp. in order to mislead or hedge; prevarication.
2. an equivocal, ambiguous expression; equivoque: The speech was marked by elaborate equivocations.
3. Logic. a fallacy caused by the double meaning of a word.
[1350-1400; ME equivocacion < LL aequivocation- (s. of aequivocatio). See EQUIVOCATE, -ION]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Equivocation — is classified as both a formal and informal fallacy. It is the misleading use of a term with more than one meaning (by glossing over which meaning is intended at a particular time).It is often confused with amphiboly; however, equivocation is… …   Wikipedia

  • equivocation — late 14c., the fallacy of using a word in different senses at different stages of the reasoning (a loan translation of Gk. homonymia, lit. having the same name ), from O.Fr. equivocation, from L.L. aequivocationem (nom. aequivocatio), from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Equivocation — E*quiv o*ca tion, n. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead. [1913 Webster] There being no room for equivocations, there is no need of distinctions. Locke. Syn: Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • equivocation — index ambiguity, color (deceptive appearance), deceit, deception, duplicity, evasion, falsehood, hesitation …   Law dictionary

  • equivocation — *ambiguity, tergiversation, double entendre Analogous words: prevarication, lying or lie, paltering, fibbing or fib (see corresponding verbs at LIE): duplicity, dissimulation, *deceit …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • equivocation — [n] avoidance of an issue ambiguity, amphibology, casuistry, coloring, con, cop out, cover, cover up, deceit, deception, deceptiveness, delusion, dissimulation, distortion, double entendre, double meaning, double talk, doubtfulness, duplicity,… …   New thesaurus

  • équivocation — (é ki vo ka sion) s. f. Action d équivoquer. HISTORIQUE    XIVe s. •   Par equivocation [homonyme] l en appelle clef un membre qui est au col d une beste, et appelle l en clef ce à quoy l en ferme les huis, ORESME Thèse de MEUNIER.. ÉTYMOLOGIE… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • equivocation — equivocate ► VERB ▪ use ambiguous or evasive language. DERIVATIVES equivocation noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Equivocation (disambiguation) — Equivocation is a logical fallacy where by an argument is made with a term which changes semantics in the course of the argument.Equivocation may also refer to: * Equivocation (information theory), in information theory, measures the amount of… …   Wikipedia

  • Equivocation (magic) — For other uses, see Equivocation (disambiguation). Equivocation is a technique by which a magician appears to have intended a particular outcome, when in actuality the outcome is one of several alternative outcomes. Contents 1 Card force 2… …   Wikipedia

  • equivocation — noun see equivocate …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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