equivoque

American  

[ek-wuh-vohk, ee-kwuh-] / ˈɛk wəˌvoʊk, ˈi kwə- /

Or equivoke

noun

1. an equivocal term; an ambiguous expression.

2. a play on words; pun.

3. double meaning; ambiguity.

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equivoque British  

/ ˈɛkwɪˌvəʊk /

noun

1. a play on words; pun

2. an ambiguous phrase or expression

3. double meaning; ambiguity

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Etymology

Origin of equivoque

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English equivoc (adjective); see equivocal

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

equivoque

Over this equivoque Dobbin shook a baffled head; and Lucinda laughed, glanced carelessly toward the stage to make sure that the act still was young, and offered to rise.

From Linda Lee, Incorporated A Novel by Louis Joseph Vance

I tell thee, that if thou intendest an equivoque, the Greek word whereby thou affirmest that Croesus should overthrow a great empire, was ill-chosen; and that it could signify nothing but Croesus conquering Cyrus.

From Thaumaturgia by An Oxonian

Nor is the equivoque remedied by defining representation as a psychic product of secondary order in relation to sensation, which should occupy the first place.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Benedetto Croce

Every thing, in a word, is tolerated which can in any way be passed into an equivoque.

From Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808 by Lt-Col. Pinkney

Calton was too much inwrapped in the contemplation of his happiness to see the equivoque between Hicks and himself; and threw himself back in his chair. 

From Sketches by Boz, illustrative of everyday life and every-day people by Charles Dickens

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