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Prevaricate

//pɹɪˈvæɹɪkeɪt// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To deviate, transgress; to go astray (from). intransitive, obsolete, transitive
  2. 2
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information wordnet
  3. 3
    To speak or act in a manner that is intentionally ambiguous or evasive; equivocate. intransitive

    "The people saw the politician prevaricate every day."

  4. 4
    To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution. intransitive
  5. 5
    To undertake something falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it. UK

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin praevāricātus, perfect active participle of praevāricor (“to walk crookedly; to play a false or double part”), from prae- + vāricō (“to stand with feet apart, straddle”), from vāricus (“with feet spread apart”); see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

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