English → Latin
“equivocal” in Latin
ambiguusgoing two ways, hither and thither, moving from side-to-side; hybrid; changing, fluctuating, waveringdubiusMoving in two directions alternately, vibrating to and fro, fluctuating, wavering; Vacillating in mind, wavering, uncertancepsdouble-headed, having two heads; having two summits or peaks; facing in two directionsflexiloquusambiguous; equivocalrespondeōto reply, answer, respond; to offer or present in return; to measure upverbumword; proverb, saying; verbingeniuminnate or natural quality, natural character; nature; disposition, temper, inclination; intelligence, natural capacityfidēsfaith; belief (belief without empirical evidence, direct experience, or observation); reliance (act of relying on or truōrāculumA divine announcement, oracle.; A prophetic declaration; prophecy.; A place where oracular responses were given; oracle.
The English word equivocal itself goes back to Latin vocō, through aequivocus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
equivocal
ambiguus (e.g., responsum: verba: and figuratively, ingenium, fides): dubius: dubius et quasi duplex (e.g., verba dubia et quasi duplicia, equivocal words): anceps (e.g., oraculum, responsum): flexiloquus: flexiloquus et obscurus (e.g., oraculum, Cic.). An equivocal saying, ex ambiguo dictum: a man of equivocal character, homo ambigui ingenii or ambigua fide: to give an equivocal answer, nihil certi respondere; ambigue respondere.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for equivocal?
- The usual Latin words for “equivocal” are ambiguus, dubius, anceps; also flexiloquus, respondeō, verbum. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.