English Explanatory Dictionary

tergiversate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.
  2. To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize.
  3. To flee by turning one's back.

Pronunciation

/ˈtɜːd͡ʒɪvəseɪt/ tər-jɪv'ər-sāt /tɝˈd͡ʒɪvɝseɪt/ en-us-tergiversate.ogg

Word forms

tergiversate tergiversates tergiversating tergiversated

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.

Synonyms

prevaricate beat around the bush desert

Related words

tergiversation tergiversator
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on T Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary