Definition of equivocate
intransitive verb. 1 : to use equivocal language especially with intent to deceive. 2 : to avoid committing oneself in what one says. Other Words from equivocate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More About equivocate.
Does equivocate mean to lie?
to use equivocal terms in order to deceive, mislead, hedge, etc.; be deliberately ambiguous. SIMILAR WORDS: lie. Derived forms. equivocation (eˌquivoˈcation)
What is an example of equivocation?
The fallacy of equivocation occurs when a key term or phrase in an argument is used in an ambiguous way, with one meaning in one portion of the argument and then another meaning in another portion of the argument. Examples: I have the right to watch “The Real World.” Therefore it’s right for me to watch the show.
How do you use equivocate in a sentence?
Equivocate sentence example
I wish he wouldn’t equivocate about this issue and instead give me a straight answer. As was his habit, he would only equivocate about the topic. Pleae don’t equivocate about this topic, we need to make a plan. She won’t do anything but equivocate about her plans for next weekend.
How do you equivocate?
Equivocation is the deliberate use of vague or ambiguous language, with the intent of deceiving others or avoiding commitment to a specific stance. For example, when a person is asked a direct yes-or-no question, and gives a vague response that doesn’t answer the question, that person is equivocating.
What does it mean to titillate someone?
Definition of titillate
transitive verb. 1 : to excite pleasurably : arouse by stimulation. 2 : tickle sense 1. intransitive verb. : to act as a stimulant to pleasurable excitement.
Are prevaricate and equivocate the same thing?
Equivocating is not out-and-out lying, but it is the process of misleading the listener with vagaries and omission. Prevaricate means to speak in a misleading way or an evasive way’, to speak with intent to deceive, to avoid telling the truth, to lie: Example: ‘he prevaricated at the mention of money. ‘
When was the word equivocate first used?
late 14c., “the fallacy of using a word in different senses at different stages of the reasoning” (a loan-translation of Greek homonymia, literally “having the same name”), from Old French.
What is Amphiboly in critical thinking?
Amphiboly is a fallacy of relevance that relies on an ambiguous word or grammatical structure to confuse or mislead an audience. Adjective: amphibolous. Also known as amphibology. More broadly, amphiboly may refer to a fallacy that results from a faulty sentence structure of any kind.
What is equivocation in communication?
Equivocation is ambiguous, indirect, or otherwise unclear communication; it “says something without really saying it.” First, we developed a method for measuring equivocation precisely and showing empirically that equivocations are not lies.
Who is the equivocator in Macbeth?
The equivocator is the second damned soul the Porter encounters as he imagines what it would be like to be hell’s gatekeeper. This passage is an allusion to a very significant event in the life of Shakespeare.
Why do people use equivocation?
Equivocation allows the writer or speaker to avoid making a firm commitment to any particular position, which is a useful – though very deceptive – way of avoiding counterarguments or hard questions. In formal arguments, equivocation can be used to make a deceptively persuasive argument.
How do you use superfluous in a sentence?
Superfluous sentence example
Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. The superfluous water from all the Delta canals is drained off, by bahrs (rivers) into the coast lakes. In an earlier age such an inquiry would have seemed superfluous . In one way, as I need not say, a saint has no superfluous merit.
How do you use recapitulate in a sentence?
Recapitulate in a Sentence
At the start of each class, the professor will recapitulate yesterday’s lecture.My grandmother has the tendency to recapitulate her stories over and over again.To ensure my students understand the instructions, I recapitulate them more than once.
What is the difference between equivocation and Amphiboly?
Whereas equivocation involves the ambiguity of a single word, amphiboly consists of the ambiguity of a complex expression (e.g., “I shot an elephant in my pajamas”).
