Final answer:
The word "equivocate" signifies the act of using ambiguous or misleading language to deceive or avoid making a direct commitment. It can also refer to the act of intentionally using words with multiple meanings to create confusion or avoid the truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word "equivocate" signifies the act of using ambiguous or misleading language to deceive or avoid making a direct commitment. It can also refer to the act of intentionally using words with multiple meanings to create confusion or avoid the truth. Shakespeare uses the word in the play Macbeth, where an equivocator is someone who could swear conflicting oaths and be dishonest with both God and humans. Similarly, in philosophy, equivocation refers to the problem of a word having multiple meanings and causing confusion in a conversation or argument.