equivocal

Where does the word "equivocal" come from? It comes from Latin aequus, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1500s).

Equivocal’s story begins in Latin: aequus meant “equal.” Equal, combined with vox (voice). By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as aequivocus. Equal-sounding, ambiguous, from aequus (equal) and vox (voice). It reached English by 1500s as equivocal. Settled as the English word for something open to more than one interpretation. Today, equivocal means open to more than one interpretation, deliberately ambiguous.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient aequus "equal", equal, combined with vox (voice).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient aequivocus "equal-sounding, ambiguous", equal-sounding, ambiguous, from aequus (equal) and vox (voice).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s equivocal "open to more than one interpretation, ambiguous", settled as the English word for something open to more than one interpretation.