December 18, 2009
- equivocal (adjective)
- \ih-KWIV-uh-kul\
- What does it mean?
- 1 : having two or more possible meanings : ambiguous2 : not easily or definitely understood : doubtful3 : suspicious, questionable
- How do you use it?
- When his sisters demanded that Dave resolve their argument, he gave an equivocal answer, hoping to avoid offending either of them.
- Are you a word wiz?
Writers have added many words to the English language. What writer do you think was the first to use the word "equivocal"?
William Shakespeare is responsible for adding hundreds of words to our language, including "equivocal." "Equivocal" first appeared in Shakespeare's 1599 comedy "All's Well That Ends Well." When asked by the King whether Bertram loved Diana, Parolles answers, "He lov'd her, sir, and lov'd her not." To this the King remarks, "As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an equivocal companion is this!" "Equivocal" followed the slightly earlier verb "equivocate," which was derived from the much earlier noun "equivocation." All three words go back to the Latin roots "aequi-," from "aequus," meaning "equal," and "vox," meaning "voice."
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