duplicitous
|du-pli-ci-tous|
🇺🇸
/duːˈplɪsɪtəs/
🇬🇧
/djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/
two-faced; double-dealing
Etymology
'duplicitous' originates from Latin, specifically the Late Latin word 'duplicitas', where the root 'duplex' meant 'twofold'.
'duplicitous' changed from Late Latin 'duplicitas' into Old French/Anglo-French forms (e.g. 'duplicité') and the noun 'duplicity' in Middle/early Modern English; the adjective 'duplicitous' was later formed in English from 'duplicity' + the adjectival suffix '-ous'.
Initially, it related to the idea of being 'twofold' or 'double'; over time it came to mean 'double-dealing' or 'deceitful', emphasizing moral duplicity rather than merely 'twofoldness'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
deceitful; deliberately deceptive or two-faced in speech or behavior; engaging in double-dealing.
The politician's duplicitous statements pleased different audiences while hiding his true intentions.
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Adjective 2
characterized by doubleness or having a twofold nature (literal or figurative), sometimes implying inconsistency or contradiction.
Her duplicitous role in the negotiation—advisor to both sides—made the outcome unpredictable.
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Last updated: 2025/09/15 22:15