Forms: 4–6 equivocacion(e, (4 equivocacoun, 5 equyocacion), 6–7 æquivocation, 6– equivocation. [ad. late L. æquivocātiōn-em, f. æquivocāre: see EQUIVOCATE. Cf. Fr. équivocation, Pr. equivocatio, Sp. equivocacion, It. equivocazione.]
† 1. The using (a word) in more than one sense; ambiguity or uncertainty of meaning in words; also [cf. Sp. equivocacion], misapprehension arising from the ambiguity of terms. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 61. Bi þis may we se hou argumentis gone awei bi equivocacion of wordis.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, V. i. (1859), 73. Ye clepe seculum the world here abouen. what mene ye by this equyocacion of that name?
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 327. The oon of theyme is callede Tilis, and that other is callede Tile, leste equiuocacion of the names deceyve hym.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 537/2. Here Tindall runneth in iuglinge, by equiuocacion of thys worde church.
1606. Holland, Sueton., Annot. 7/2. Playing upon the æquivocation or double sense of the word Dialis.
1656. Ben Israel, Vind. Judæorum, in Phenix (1708), II. 1409. That because of the Equivocation of the Word, they should change it for another.
1738–41. Warburton, Div. Legat., III. App. Wks. (1811), III. 337. The second … receives all its strength from an equivocation in the term, good.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend (1865), 23. It hides its deformity in an equivocation, or double meaning of the word truth.
b. Logic. As the equivalent of Gr. ὁμωνυμία: The fallacy that is committed when a term has different senses in the different members of a syllogism.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xiv. § 7. The great Sophisme of all Sophismes, beeing Æquiuocation or Ambiguitie of Wordes and Phrase.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. iv. 13. That is the fallacie of Æquivocation and Amphibologie, which conclude from the ambiguity of some one word, or the ambiguous sintaxis of many put together.
1870. Jevons, Elem. Logic, xx. 171.
2. The use of words or expressions that are susceptible of a double signification, with a view to mislead; esp. the expression of a virtual falsehood in the form of a proposition which (in order to satisfy the speaker’s conscience) is verbally true. Also concr.
1605. Shaks., Macb., V. v. 43. I … begin To doubt th’Equiuocation of the Fiend.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Kings xi. Comm., The men of Iabes deluded their enemies by æquivocation.
1627. P. Fletcher, Locusts, II. vi. His matter fram’d of slight equivocations, His very form was form’d of mentall reservations.
a. 1634. Randolph, Poems (1652), 51.
| That can the subtile difference descry | |
| Betwixt æquivocation and a lye. |
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 113. You won’t tell a downright fib for the world; but for equivocation! no jesuit ever went beyond you.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iii. 250. The Bishop of Rochester stooped to an equivocation too transparent to deceive any one.
b. transf.
1641. R. Carpenter, Experience, III. vii. 76. I see there may be an equivocation committed, as well in manners, as in words.
1681. Colvil, Whigs Supplic. (1751), To Rdr. 8. They eluded my vow by equivocation, putting gold unawares in the neck of my doublet.
