Question

When you equivocate, you seem to be saying both yes and no with equal voice. An equivocal answer, therefore, is by design vague, indefinite, and susceptible of contradictory interpretations, quite the opposite of an unequivocal response, which says Yes! or No!, and no kidding. Professional politicians are masters of equivocation—they are, on most vital issues, mugwumps; they sit on a fence with their mugs on one side and their wumps on the other. You will often hear candidates for office say, publicly, that they unequivocally promise, if elected, to…; and then they start equivocating for all they are worth, like people who say, “Let me be perfectly frank with you”—and then promptly and glibly lie through their teeth. how to say yes and no

Accepted Answer

Equivocate is built on another Latin word meaning equal—aequus (the spelling in English is always equ-)—plus vox, vocis, voice. Word Power Made Easy SESSION 20

知识	When you equivocate, you seem to be saying both yes and no with equal voice. An equivocal answer, therefore, is by design vague, indefinite, and susceptible of contradictory interpretations, quite the opposite of an unequivocal response, which says Yes! or No!, and no kidding. Professional politicians are masters of equivocation—they are, on most vital issues, mugwumps; they sit on a fence with their mugs on one side and their wumps on the other. You will often hear candidates for office say, publicly, that they unequivocally promise, if elected, to…; and then they start equivocating for all they are worth, like people who say, “Let me be perfectly frank with you”—and then promptly and glibly lie through their teeth.
拓展	Equivocate is built on another Latin word meaning equal—aequus (the spelling in English is always equ-)—plus vox, vocis, voice.
《》	how to say yes and no
出处	Word Power Made Easy SESSION 20

Word Equivocate Equal Voice Equivocal Answer Design Vague Indefinite