Equivocate

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as, to equivocate is the work of duplicity. All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to equivocate. Bp. Stillingfleet.

Synonyms: prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To render equivocal or ambiguous. He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. Sir G. Buck.