Equivocal means worded so that it could be taken either way. An equivocal answer, equivocal evidence, distinctly equivocal.
It is an accusation when said of a person and a plain description when said of results, since equivocal test results genuinely point both ways. The Latin means equal voice, from two meanings sounding alike.
1adjectiveequivocalWorded so that it could be taken either way.
“Asked whether he'd run again, the mayor gave an equivocal reply that kept everyone guessing.”
equivocal is a quality.
Latin aequivocus means of equal voice, from aequus, equal, plus vocare, to call.
Latin
vōcālis
Middle English
vocal
English
vocal
English, today
equivocal
From aequivocus + -al, from aequus + vocō. by surface analysis, equi- + vocal. vocal comes from Middle English vocal, from Latin vōcālis. Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis (“uttering a voice, sounding, speaking”), from vōx + -ālis. a doublet of vowel and vocalis. Compare Old French vocal.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA