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Tergiversate

//tɝˈd͡ʒɪvɝseɪt// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner. intransitive

    "The officials soon concluded that the easiest way to remain on good terms with the court was to elude responsibility, to tergiversate, to prevent results."

  2. 2
    abandon one's beliefs or allegiances wordnet
  3. 3
    To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize. intransitive

    "Henry had hesitated before authorising the spoliation; he would soon tergiversate on other matters of doctrine but this act was irreversible."

  4. 4
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information wordnet
  5. 5
    To flee by turning one's back. intransitive, rare

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin tergiversātus, perfect active participle of tergiversor (“to evade, to avoid, to turn one's back on”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from tergum (“back, hind”) + versor (“to turn”). Compare French tergiverser.

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