equivoque

See also: equivoqué, and équivoque

English

Alternative forms

• equivoke, æquivoque

Etymology

From Late Latin aequivocus (“ambiguous, equivocal”), from Latin aequus (“equal”) + vocō (“call”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛkwɪvəʊk/

Adjective

equivoque (comparative more equivoque, superlative most equivoque)

1. (obsolete) Equivocal.

Noun

equivoque (plural equivoques)

1. (obsolete) A homonym.
2. A play on words, a pun.
   • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:

     [H]e sported in many other æquivoques of the same nature; and at dinner told the physician, that he was like the root of the tongue, as being cursedly down in the mouth.

3. Ambiguity or double meaning.
   • 1942, Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, Canongate, published 2006, page 648:

     [T]he black wisps of women bargaining behind those veils might turn out to be the ballet and coalesce in some dance gaily admitting their equivoque of concealing and proclaiming their sex.

Portuguese

Verb

equivoque

1. inflection of equivocar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative

Spanish

Verb

equivoque

1. inflection of equivocar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative