duplicity
(djuːˈplɪsɪtɪ)
Also 5–6 -te, 6–7 -tie.
[a. F. duplicité (13th c.), ad. L. duplicitāt-em, n. of quality f. duplex, duplic-em: see duplex.]
1. The quality of being ‘double’ in action or conduct (see double a. 5); the character or practice of acting in two ways at different times, or openly and secretly; deceitfulness, double-dealing. (The earliest and still the most usual sense.)
| c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems 165 (Mätz.) In symulacioune is false duplicite. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. v. (Arb.) 19 Wo worth the man full of duplycyte. 1597 J. Payne Royal Exch. 14 Suche ys the choyce that these make of duplicitie and hypocrisie. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 143 Whether this Duplicity of Tongue be in them Lusus Naturæ, or a meer Device of Art. 1771 Junius Lett. lii. 267 I am astonished he does not see through your Duplicity. 1828 D'Israeli Chas. I, I. vi. 206 We have here complete evidence of the duplicity of the King's conduct. |
2. lit. The state or quality of being numerically or physically double or twofold: doubleness.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xviii. (Arb.) 205 Because of the darkenes and duplicitie of his sence. 1688 Boyle Final Causes Nat. iv. 163 Nature has furnished men with double parts..where that duplicity may be highly useful. 1764 Reid Inquiry vi. §13. Wks. I. 165/2 We as invariably see two objects unite into one, and, in appearance, lose their duplicity. 1863 C. Pritchard in Smith's Dict. Bible III. 1375 The duplicity of the two stars must have been apparent. 1867–77 G. F. Chambers Astron. viii. 769 The duplicity of Saturn's ring. 1892 Mivart Ess. & Crit. I. 403 Due to non-appreciation of our duplicity in unity. |
3. Law. The pleading of two (or more) matters in one plea; double pleading.
| [1628 Coke On Litt. 304 The Plea that containes duplicity or multiplicity of distinct matter to one and the same thing..is not allowable in Law.] 1848 Wharton Law Lex., Duplicity. See Double Pleading. |
Hence duˈplicitous a., showing duplicity, deceitful.
| 1961 in Webster. 1966 New Statesman 11 Mar. 350/3 Peggy Mount, as the duplicitous washerwoman,..subdues her comic extravagance. 1969 G. Leff Hist. & Soc. Theory ii. 44 Whether John was contrite or merely duplicitous in acceding to the barons' demands in 1215 is irrelevant to the meaning of Magna Carta. |