equivocating

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of equivocate

   “Taken off his guard by a question so abrupt, yet, at the same time, not in the least equivocating, viewing deeply the consequences and unpleasant effects that might arise were he to reply by an affirmative, he hesitated not to give a positive denial, asserting that such an idea had never entered his thoughts.”