DUPLICITY • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Duplicity

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/duplˈɪsɪti/ Listen

noun

duplicity n. (pl. duplicities)

Doubleness; a twofold state. (Archaic) "Do not affect duplicities nor triplicities, nor any certain number of parts in your division of things."

Doubleness of heart or speech; insincerity; a sustained form of deception which consists in entertaining or pretending to entertain one set of feelings, and acting as if influenced by another; bad faith. "Far from the duplicity wickedly charged on him, he acted his part with alacrity and resolution."

(Law)

(a)

The use of two or more distinct allegations or answers, where one is sufficient.

(b)

In indictments, the union of two incompatible offenses.

Synonyms: Double dealing; dissimulation; deceit; guile; deception; falsehood.

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Etymology of 'Duplicity'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Duplicity" Quotes from Famous Books

... extraordinary adventure, in which they were fully determined to let him ruin himself. Therefore the "unlimited" credit opened at the banker Nourry's was only a bait: while making the conspirators think they would never want for money, the credit was limited beforehand to 30,000 francs, a piece of duplicity which enraged even the detectives ...

— The House of the Combrays • G. le Notre

... drank the old Indian toast. Simple honesty was in one heart, while duplicity and ...

— The Story of the Foss River Ranch • Ridgwell Cullum

... anything but good result. Julia, marking the disimprovement in his health, thought it was the natural course and saved him all work, carrying out the doctor's instructions more carefully than ever. The hidden whisky remained unknown to her, for although in the larger affairs of duplicity and diplomacy she easily outmatched her father, in matters requiring small cunning he was much nearer her equal. In this one he showed almost preternatural skill; his whole heart was in it, and his wits, where it was concerned, ...

— The Good Comrade • Una L. Silberrad

... "The contradictions, duplicity, and absurdity of the law are obvious at once. The first sentence announces a change in the settled principles and policy of the Government; else why declare that the Constitution 'shall' extend to Nebraska, if it already extended there? Then comes ...

— Atlantic Monthly Volume 6, No. 34, August, 1860 • Various

... moment it seemed impossible that any human intelligence could have suspected deceit or duplicity in Rosey's clear gaze. But Mr. Nott's intelligence was superhuman. "I was sayin' that Mr. Ferrieres didn't happen in while ...

— By Shore and Sedge • Bret Harte

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