| 释义 |
equivocation|iːˌkwɪvəʊˈkeɪʃən|
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.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 61 Bi þis may we se hou argumentis gone awei bi equivocacion of wordis. 1413Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle v. i. (1859) 73 Ye clepe seculum the world here abouen. what mene ye by this equyocacion of that name? 1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 327 The oon of theyme is callede Tilis, and that other is callede Tile, leste equiuocacion of the names deceyve hym. 1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 537/2 Here Tindall runneth in iuglinge, by equiuocacion of thys worde church. 1606Holland Sueton. Annot. 10 Playing upon the æquivocation or double sense of the word Dialis. 1656Manasseh ben Israel Vind. Jud. in Phenix (1708) II. 1409 That because of the Equivocation of the Word, they should change it for another. 1738–41Warburton Div. Legat. iii. App. Wks. (1811) III. 337 The second..receives all its strength from an equivocation in the term, good. 1809–10Coleridge 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 which is committed when a term has different senses in the different members of a syllogism.
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xiv. §7 The great sophism of all sophisms being equivocation or ambiguity of words and phrase. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. iv. 13 The fallacie of æquivocation and Amphibologie, which conclude from the ambiguity of some one word, or the ambiguous sintaxis of many. 1870Jevons 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.
1605Shakes. Macb. v. v. 43, I..begin To doubt th' Equiuocation of the Fiend. 1609Bible (Douay) 1 Kings xi. Comm., The men of Iabes deluded their enemies by æquivocation. 1627P. Fletcher Locusts ii. vi, His matter fram'd of slight equivocations, His very form was form'd of mentall reservations. a1634Randolph Poems (1652) 51 That can the Subtle difference descry Betwixt æquivocation and a Lye. 1741Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 113 You won't tell a downright fib for the world; but for equivocation! no jesuit ever went beyond you. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iii. 250 The Bishop..stooped to an equivocation too transparent to deceive any one.
b. transf.
1642R. Carpenter Experience iii. vii. 76, I see there may be an equivocation committed, as well in manners as in words. 1681S. Colvil Whigs Supplic. (1751) To Rdr. 8 They eluded my vow by equivocation putting gold unawares in the neck of my doublet. |