d(y)üˈplisəd.ē, -ətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English duplicite, from Middle French duplicité, from Late Latin duplicitat-, duplicitas, from Latin duplic-, duplex + -itat-, -itas -ity
1. : doubleness of heart, thought, speech, or action : deception by pretending to entertain one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another : bad faith : double-dealing
the simplicity and openness of their lives brought out for him the duplicity that lay at the bottom of ours — Mary Austin
2. : the quality or state of being double or twofold
these double stars … show a doubling of the spectral lines that must be caused by a duplicity in the source of light — New Internat'l Encyc.
3.
a. : the use of two or more distinct allegations or answers where one is sufficient : pleading double
b. : the union of two incompatible offenses in an indictment
Synonyms: see deceit