Equability
E•qua•bil´i•ty, n. [L. aequabilitas, fr. aequabilis. See Equable.] The quality or condition of being equable; evenness or uniformity; as equability of temperature; the equability of the mind.
"For the celestial bodies, the equability and constancy of their motions argue them ordained by wisdom." Ray.
Equable
E´qua•ble ( 277), a. [L. aequabilis, fr. aequare to make level or equal, fr. aequus even, equal. See Equal.]
1. Equal and uniform; continuing the same at different times; — said of motion, and the like; uniform in surface; smooth; as an equable plain or globe.
2. Uniform in action or intensity; not variable or changing; — said of the feelings or temper.
Equableness
E´qua•ble•ness, n. Quality or state of being equable.
Equal
E´qual, a. [L. aequalis, fr. aequus even, equal; akin to Skr. ka, and perh. to L. unus for older oinos one, E. one.]
1. Agreeing in quantity, size, quality, degree, value, etc.; having the same magnitude, the same value, the same degree, etc.; — applied to number, degree, quantity, and intensity, and to any subject which admits of them; neither inferior nor superior, greater nor less, better nor worse; corresponding; alike; as equal quantities of land, water, etc. ; houses of equal size; persons of equal stature or talents; commodities of equal value.
2. Bearing a suitable relation; of just proportion; having competent power, abilities, or means; adequate; as he is not equal to the task.
"The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English." Clarendon.
"It is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your merit." Dryden.
"Whose voice an equal messenger
Conveyed thy meaning mild." Emerson.
3. Not variable; equable; uniform; even; as an equal movement. "An equal temper." Dryden.
4. Evenly balanced; not unduly inclining to either side; characterized by fairness; unbiased; impartial; equitable; just.
"Are not my ways equal?" Ezek. xviii. 29.
"Thee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem." Spenser.
"Nor think it equal to answer deliberate reason with sudden heat and noise." Milton.
5. Of the same interest or concern; indifferent.
"They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me." Cheyne.
6. (Mus.) Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; — opposed to mixed. [R.]
7. (Math.) Exactly agreeing with respect to quantity. Equal temperament. (Mus.) See Temperament.
Syn. — Even; equable; uniform; adequate; proportionate; commensurate; fair; just; equitable.
Equal
E´qual, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Equaled or Equalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Equaling or Equalling.]
1. To be or become equal to; to have the same quantity, the same value, the same degree or rank, or the like, with; to be commenurate with.
"On me whose all not equals Edward’s moiety." Shak.
2. To make equal return to; to recompense fully.
"Who answered all her cares, and equaled all her love." Dryden.
3. To make equal or equal to; to equalize; hence, to compare or regard as equals; to put on equality.
"He would not equal the mind that he found in himself to the infinite and incomprehensible." Berkeley.
Equalitarian
E•qual•i•ta´ri•an, n. One who believes in equalizing the condition of men; a leveler.
Equality
E•qual´i•ty, n. ; pl. Equalities (#). [L. aequalitas, fr. aequalis equal. See Equal.]
1. The condition or quality of being equal; agreement in quantity or degree as compared; likeness in bulk, value, rank, properties, etc.; as the equality of two bodies in length or thickness; an equality of rights.
"A footing of equality with nobles." Macaulay.
2. Sameness in state or continued course; evenness; uniformity; as an equality of temper or constitution.
3. Evenness; uniformity; as an equality of surface.
4. (Math.) Exact agreement between two expressions or magnitudes with respect to quantity; — denoted by the symbol =; thus, a = x signifies that a contains the same number and kind of units of measure that x does. Confessional equality. See under Confessional.
Equalize
E´qual•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Equalized p. pr. & vb. n. Equalizing ] [Cf. F. egaliser.]
1. To make equal; to cause to correspond, or be like, in amount or degree as compared; as to equalize accounts, burdens, or taxes.
"One poor moment can suffice
To equalize the lofty and the low." Wordsworth.
"No system of instruction will completely equalize natural powers." Whately.
2. To pronounce equal; to compare as equal.
"Which we equalize, and perhaps would willingly prefer to the Iliad." Orrery.
3. To be equal to; equal; to match. [Obs.]
"It could not equalize the hundredth part
Of what her eyes have kindled in my heart." Waller. Equalizing bar (Railroad Mach.), a lever connecting two axle boxes, or two springs in a car truck or locomotive, to equalize the pressure on the axles.
Equalizer
E´qual•i•zer, n. One who, or that which, equalizes anything.
Equalizer
E´qual•iz•er, n.
1. = Equalizing bar.
2. A device, as a bar, for operating two brakes, esp. a pair of hub brakes for an automobile, with equal force.
3. (Elec.) Any device for equalizing the pull of electromagnets; also a conductor of low resistance joining the armature ends of the series field coils of dynamos connected in parallel.
4. (Aëronautics) A sliding panel to preserve the lateral stability of an aëroplane.
Equangular
E•quan´gu•lar, a. [See Equiangular.] Having equal angles; equiangular. [R.] Johnson.
Equanimity
E•qua•nim´i•ty, n. [L. aequanimitas, fr. aequanimus: cf. F. equanimite. See Equanimous.] Evenness of mind; that calm temper or firmness of mind which is not easily elated or depressed; patience; calmness; composure; as to bear misfortunes with equanimity.
Equant
E´quant, n. [L. aequans, -antis, p. pr. of aequare: cf. F. equant. See Equate.] (Ptolemaic Astron.) A circle around whose circumference a planet or the center of ann epicycle was conceived to move uniformly; — called also eccentric equator.
Equate
E•quate´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Equated; p. pr. & vb. n. Equating.] [L. aequatus, p. p. of aequare to make level or equal, fr. aequus level, equal. See Equal.] To make equal; to reduce to an average; to make such an allowance or correction in as will reduce to a common standard of comparison; to reduce to mean time or motion; as to equate payments; to equate lines of railroad for grades or curves; equated distances.
"Palgrave gives both scrolle and scrowe and equates both to F[rench] rolle." Skeat (Etymol. Dict. ).Equating for grades (Railroad Engin.), adding to the measured distance one mile for each twenty feet of ascent. — Equating for curves, adding half a mile for each 360 degrees of curvature.
Equation
E•qua´tion, n. [L. aequatio an equalizing: cf. F. equation equation. See Equate.]
1. A making equal; equal division; equality; equilibrium.
"Again the golden day resumed its right,
And ruled in just equation with the night." Rowe.
2. (Math.) An expression of the condition of equality between two algebraic quantities or sets of quantities, the sign = being placed between them; as a binomial equation; a quadratic equation; an algebraic equation; a transcendental equation; an exponential equation; a logarithmic equation; a differential equation, etc.
3. (Astron.) A quantity to be applied in computing the mean place or other element of a celestial body; that is, any one of the several quantities to be added to, or taken from, its position as calculated on the hypothesis of a mean uniform motion, in order to find its true position as resulting from its actual and unequal motion. Absolute equation. See under Absolute. — Equation box, or Equational box, a system of differential gearing used in spinning machines for regulating the twist of the yarn. It resembles gearing used in equation clocks for showing apparent time. — Equation of the center (Astron.), the difference between the place of a planet as supposed to move uniformly in a circle, and its place as moving in an ellipse. — Equations of condition (Math.), equations formed for deducing the true values of certain quantities from others on which they depend, when different sets of the latter, as given by observation, would yield different values of the quantities sought, and the number of equations that may be found is greater than the number of unknown quantities. — Equation of a curve (Math.), an equation which expresses the relation between the coördinates of every point in the curve. — Equation of equinoxes (Astron.), the difference between the mean and apparent places of the equinox. — Equation of payments (Arith.), the process of finding the mean time of payment of several sums due at different times. — Equation of time (Astron.), the difference between mean and apparent time, or between the time of day indicated by the sun, and that by a perfect clock going uniformly all the year round. — Equationclock or watch, a timepiece made to exhibit the differences between mean solar and apparent solar time. Knight. — Normal equation. See under Normal. — Personal equation (Astron.), the difference between an observed result and the true qualities or peculiarities in the observer; particularly the difference, in an average of a large number of observation, between the instant when an observer notes a phenomenon, as the transit of a star, and the assumed instant of its actual occurrence; or, relatively, the difference between these instants as noted by two observers. It is usually only a fraction of a second; — sometimes applied loosely to differences of judgment or method occasioned by temperamental qualities of individuals. — Theory of equations (Math.), the branch of algebra that treats of the properties of a single algebraic equation of any degree containing one unknown quantity.
Equator
E•qua´tor, n. [L. aequator one who equalizes: cf. F. equateur equator. See Equate.]
1. (Geog.) The imaginary great circle on the earth’s surface, everywhere equally distant from the two poles, and dividing the earth’s surface into two hemispheres.
2. (Astron.) The great circle of the celestial sphere, coincident with the plane of the earth’s equator; - - so called because when the sun is in it, the days and nights are of equal length; hence called also the equinoctial, and on maps, globes, etc., the equinoctial line. Equatorof the sun or of a planet (Astron.), the great circle whose plane passes through through the center of the body, and is perpendicular to its axis of revolution. — Magnetic equator. See Aclinic.
Equatorially
E•qua•to´ri•al•ly, adv. So as to have motion or direction parallel to the equator.
Equerry
Eq´uer•ry ( 277), n. ; pl. Equerries (#). [F. ecurie stable, for older escurie, escuirie (confused somewhat with F. ecuyer, OF. escuyer, squire), LL. scuria, OHG. skiura, scra, barn, shed, G. scheuer, from a root meaning to cover, protect, and akin to L. scutum shield. See Esquire, and cf. Ecurie, Querry.]
1. A large stable or lodge for horses. Johnson.
2. An officer of princes or nobles, charged with the care of their horses. In England equerries are officers of the royal household in the department of the Master of the Horse.
Equestrian
E•ques´tri•an, a. [L. equester, from eques horseman, fr. equus horse: cf. F. equestre. See Equine.]
1. Of or pertaining to horses or horsemen, or to horsemanship; as equestrian feats, or games.
2. Being or riding on horseback; mounted; as an equestrian statue.
"An equestrian lady appeared upon the plains." Spectator.
3. Belonging to, or composed of, the ancient Roman equities or knights; as the equestrian order. Burke.
Equestrian
E•ques´tri•an, n. One who rides on horseback; a horseman; a rider.
Equi-
E´qui- [L. aequus equal. See Equal.] A prefix, meaning equally; as equidistant; equiangular.
Equiangled
E´qui•an•gled, a. [ Equi- + angle.] Equiangular. [Obs.] Boyle.
Equiangular
E•qui•an´gu•lar, a. [ Equi- + angular. Cf. Equangular.] Having equal angles; as an equiangular figure; a square is equiangular. Equiangular spiral. (Math.) See under Spiral, n. — Mutually equiangular, applied to two figures, when every angle of the one has its equal among the angles of the other.
Equibalance
E•qui•bal´ance, n. [ Equi- + balance.] Equal weight; equiponderance.
Equibalance
E•qui•bal´ance, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Equibalanced p. pr. & vb. n. Equibalancing ] To make of equal weight; to balance equally; to counterbalance; to equiponderate.
Equilibrate
E•qui•li´brate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Equilibrated p. pr. & vb. n. Equilibrating ] [L. aequilibratus in equilibrium; aequus equal + libra balance. See Equilibrium.] To balance two scales, sides, or ends; to keep even with equal weight on each side; to keep in equipoise. H. Spenser.
Equilibrious
E•qui•lib´ri•ous, a. Evenly poised; balanced. Dr. H. More. — E•qui•lib´ri•ous•ly, adv.
Equilibrity
E•qui•lib´ri•ty, n. [L. aequilibritas equal distribution. See Equilibrium.] The state of being balanced; equality of weight. [R.] J. Gregory.
Equilibrium
E•qui•lib´ri•um, n. ; pl. E. Equilibriums (#), L. Equilibria (#). [L. aequilibrium, fr. aequilibris in equilibrium, level; aequus equal + libra balance. See Equal, and Librate.]
1. Equality of weight or force; an equipoise or a state of rest produced by the mutual counteraction of two or more forces.
2. A level position; a just poise or balance in respect to an object, so that it remains firm; equipoise; as to preserve the equilibrium of the body.
"Health consists in the equilibrium between those two powers." Arbuthnot.
3. A balancing of the mind between motives or reasons, with consequent indecision and doubt. Equilibrium valve (Steam Engine), a balanced valve. See under Valve.
Equinal
E•qui´nal, a. See Equine. "An equinal shape." Heywood.
Equine
E´quine, a. [L. equinus, fr. equus horse; akin to Gr., Skr. ava, OS. ehu, AS. eh, eoh, Icel. jr, OIr. ech, cf. Skr. a to reach, overtake, perh. akin to E. acute, edge, eager, a. Cf. Hippopotamus.] Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a horse.
"The shoulders, body, things, and mane are equine; the head completely bovine." Sir J. Barrow.
Equinia
E•quin´i•a, n. [NL. See Equine.] (Med.) Glanders.
Equinoctial
E•qui•noc´tial, a. [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. equinoxial. See Equinox.]
1. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as the equinoctial line.
2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun.
3. Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points; as an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world. Equinoctial colure (Astron.), the meridian passing through the equinoctial points. — Equinoctial line (Astron.), the celestial equator; — so called because when the sun is on it, the nights and days are of equal length in all parts of the world. See Equator.
"Thrice the equinoctial line
He circled." Milton. — Equinoctial points (Astron.), the two points where the celestial and ecliptic intersect each other; the one being in the first point of Aries, the other in the first point of Libra. — Equinoctial time (Astron.) reckoned in any year from the instant when the mean sun is at the mean vernal equinoctial point.
Equinox
E´qui•nox, n. [OE. equinoxium, equenoxium, L. aequinoctium; aequus equal + nox, noctis, night: cf. F. equinoxe. See Equal, and Night.]
1. The time when the sun enters one of the equinoctial points, that is, about March 21 and September 22. See Autumnal equinox, Vernal equinox, under Autumnal and Vernal.
"When descends on the Atlantic
The gigantic
Stormwind of the equinox." Longfellow.
2. Equinoctial wind or storm. [R.] Dryden.
Equip
E•quip´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Equipped p. pr. & vb. n. Equipping.] [F. equiper to supply, fit out, orig. said of a ship, OF. esquiper to embark; of German origin; cf. OHG. scif, G. schiff, Icel. skip, AS. scip. See Ship.]
1. To furnish for service, or against a need or exigency; to fit out; to supply with whatever is necessary to efficient action in any way; to provide with arms or an armament, stores, munitions, rigging, etc.; — said esp. of ships and of troops. Dryden.
"Gave orders for equipping a considerable fleet." Ludlow.
2. To dress up; to array; accouter.
"The country are led astray in following the town, and equipped in a ridiculous habit, when they fancy themselves in the height of the mode." Addison.
Equipage
Eq´ui•page ( 48), n. [F. equipage, fr. equiper. See Equip.]
1. Furniture or outfit, whether useful or ornamental; especially, the furniture and supplies of a vessel, fitting her for a voyage or for warlike purposes, or the furniture and necessaries of an army, a body of troops, or a single soldier, including whatever is necessary for efficient service; equipments; accouterments; habiliments; attire.
"Did their exercises on horseback with noble equipage." Evelyn.
"First strip off all her equipage of Pride." Pope.
2. Retinue; train; suite. Swift.
3. A carriage of state or of pleasure with all that accompanies it, as horses, liveried servants, etc., a showy turn-out.
"The rumbling equipages of fashion … were unknown in the settlement of New Amsterdam." W. Irving.
Equiparable
E•quip´a•ra•ble a. [L. aequiparabilis.] Comparable. [Obs. or R.]
Equiparate
E•quip´a•rate v. t. [L. aequiparatus, p. p. of aequiparare.] To compare. [R.]
Equipensate
E•qui•pen´sate, v. t. [ Equi- + pensatus, p. p. of pensare to weigh. Cf. Equipoise.] To weigh equally; to esteem alike. [Obs.]
Equipment
E•quip´ment, n. [Cf. F. equipement. See Equip.]
1. The act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a voyage or expedition. Burke.
"The equipment of the fleet was hastened by De Witt." Hume.
2. Whatever is used in equipping; necessaries for an expedition or voyage; the collective designation for the articles comprising an outfit; equipage; as a railroad equipment (locomotives, cars, etc. ; for carrying on business); horse equipments; infantry equipments; naval equipments; laboratory equipments.
"Armed and dight,
In the equipments of a knight." Longfellow.
Equipoise
E´qui•poise, n. [ Equi- + poise.]
1. Equality of weight or force; hence, equilibrium; a state in which the two ends or sides of a thing are balanced, and hence equal; state of being equally balanced; — said of moral, political, or social interests or forces.
"The means of preserving the equipoise and the tranquillity of the commonwealth." Burke.
"Our little lives are kept in equipoise
By opposite attractions and desires." Longfellow.
2. Counterpoise.
"The equipoise to the clergy being removed." Buckle. { E•qui•pol´lence, E•qui•pol´len•cy }, n. [Cf. F. equipollence. See Equipollent.]
1. Equality of power, force, signification, or application. Boyle.
2. (Logic) Sameness of signification of two or more propositions which differ in language.
Equiponderate
E•qui•pon´der•ate, v. i. [ Equi- + L. ponderare to weigh. See Ponderate.] To be equal in weight; to weigh as much as another thing. Bp. Wilkins.
Equiradical
E•qui•rad´i•cal a. [ Equi- + radical.] Equally radical. [R.] Coleridge.
Equisetaceous
E•qui•se•ta´ceous, a. (Bot.) Belonging to the Equisetaceae, or Horsetail family.
Equisetiform
E•qui•set´i•form, a. [ Equisetum- + -form.] (Bot.) Having the form of the equisetum.
Equisonance
E•quis´o•nance, n. [ Equi- + L. sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound: cf. F. equisonnance. See Sonant.] (Mus.) An equal sounding; the consonance of the unison and its octaves.
Equitable
Eq´ui•ta•ble, a. [F. equitable, from equite. See Equity.]
1. Possessing or exhibiting equity; according to natural right or natural justice; marked by a due consideration for what is fair, unbiased, or impartial; just; as an equitable decision; an equitable distribution of an estate; equitable men.
"No two … had exactly the same notion of what was equitable." Macaulay.
2. (Law) That can be sustained or made available or effective in a court of equity, or upon principles of equity jurisprudence; as an equitable estate; equitable assets, assignment, mortgage, etc. Abbott.
Syn. — Just; fair; reasonable; right; honest; impartial; candid; upright.
Equitancy
Eq´ui•tan•cy, n. [Cf. LL. equitantia. See Equitant.] Horsemanship.
Equity
Eq´ui•ty, n. ; pl. Equities (#). [F. equite, L. aequitas, fr. aequus even, equal. See Equal.]
1. Equality of rights; natural justice or right; the giving, or desiring to give, to each man his due, according to reason, and the law of God to man; fairness in determination of conflicting claims; impartiality.
"Christianity secures both the private interests of men and the public peace, enforcing all justice and equity." Tillotson.
2. (Law) An equitable claim; an equity of redemption; as an equity to a settlement, or wife’s equity, etc.
"I consider the wife’s equity to be too well settled to be shaken." Kent.
3. (Law) A system of jurisprudence, supplemental to law, properly so called, and complemental of it.
"Equity had been gradually shaping itself into a refined science which no human faculties could master without long and intense application." Macaulay. Equitable jurisprudence in England and in the United States grew up from the inadequacy of common-law forms to secure justice in all cases; and this led to distinct courts by which equity was applied in the way of injunctions, bills of discovery, bills for specified performance, and other processes by which the merits of a case could be reached more summarily or more effectively than by common-law suits. By the recent English Judicature Act (1873), however, the English judges are bound to give effect, in common-law suits, to all equitable rights and remedies; and when the rules of equity and of common law, in any particular case, conflict, the rules of equity are to prevail. In many jurisdictions in the United States, equity and common law are thus blended; in others distinct equity tribunals are still maintained. See Chancery. Equity of redemption (Law), the advantage, allowed to a mortgageor, of a certain or reasonable time to redeem lands mortgaged, after they have been forfeited at law by the nonpayment of the sum of money due on the mortgage at the appointed time. Blackstone.
Syn. — Right; justice; impartiality; rectitude; fairness; honesty; uprightness. See Justice.
Equivalence
E•quiv´a•lence, n. [Cf. F. equivalence, LL. aequivalentia.]
1. The condition of being equivalent or equal; equality of worth, value, signification, or force; as an equivalence of definitions.
2. Equal power or force; equivalent amount.
3. (Chem.) (a) The quantity of the combining power of an atom, expressed in hydrogen units; the number of hydrogen atoms can combine with, or be exchanged for; valency. See Valence. (b) The degree of combining power as determined by relative weight. See Equivalent, n. , 2. [R.]
Equivalent
E•quiv´a•lent, a. [L. aequivalens, -entis, p. pr. of aequivalere to have equal power; aequus equal + valere to be strong, be worth: cf. F. equivalent. See Equal, and Valiant.]
1. Equal in worth or value, force, power, effect, import, and the like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning.
"For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent." South.
2. (Geom.) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; — applied to magnitudes; as a square may be equivalent to a triangle.
3. (Geol.) Contemporaneous in origin; as the equivalent strata of different countries.
Equivalent
E•quiv´a•lent, v. t. To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [R.]
Equivalvular
E•qui•val´vu•lar, a. (Zoöl.) Same as Equivalve or Equivalved.
Equivocal
E•quiv´o•cal, a. [L. aequivocus: aequus equal + vox, vocis, word. See Equal, and Voice, and cf. Equivoque.]
1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having two significations equally applicable; capable of double interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.
"For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a nature as to be visible only to learned eyes." Jeffrey.
2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be suspected; as his actions are equivocal. "Equivocal repentances." Milton.
3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful. "How equivocal a test." Burke. Equivocal chord (Mus.), a chord which can be resolved into several distinct keys; one whose intervals, being all minor thirds, do not clearly indicate its fundamental tone or root; the chord of the diminished triad, and the diminished seventh.
Syn. — Ambiguous; doubtful; uncertain; indeterminate. — Equivocal, Ambiguous. We call an expression ambiguous when it has one general meaning, and yet contains certain words which may be taken in two different senses; or certain clauses which can be so connected with other clauses as to divide the mind between different views of part of the meaning intended. We call an expression equivocal when, taken as a whole, it conveys a given thought with perfect clearness and propriety, and also another thought with equal propriety and clearness. Such were the responses often given by the Delphic oracle; as that to Crsus when consulting about a war with Persia: "If you cross the Halys, you will destroy a great empire." This he applied to the Persian empire, which lay beyond that river, and, having crossed, destroyed his own, empire in the conflict. What is ambiguous is a mere blunder of language; what is equivocal is usually intended to deceive, though it may occur at times from mere inadvertence. Equivocation is applied only to cases where there is a design to deceive.
Equivocalness
E•quiv´o•cal•ness, n. The state of being equivocal.
Equivocate
E•quiv´o•cate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Equivocated p. pr. & vb. n. Equivocating.] [L. aequivocatus, p. p. of aequivocari to be called by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus: cf. F. equivoquer. See Equivocal, a. ] 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.
Syn. — To prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate.
Equivocation
E•quiv•o•ca´tion, n. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead.
"There being no room for equivocations, there is no need of distinctions." Locke.
Syn. — Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; evasion; guibbling. See Equivocal, a. , and Prevaricate, v. i.
Equivocatory
E•quiv´o•ca•to•ry, a. Indicating, or characterized by, equivocation. { Eq´ui•voque, Eq´ui•voke }, n. [F. equivoque. See Equivocal.]
1. An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations. Coleridge.
2. An equivocation; a guibble. B. Jonson.
Equus
E´quus, n. [L., horse.] (Zoöl.) A genus of mammals, including the horse, ass, etc.