English Explanatory Dictionary

tergiversation

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The act of abandoning something or someone, of changing sides; desertion; betrayal.
  2. The act of evading any clear course of action or speech, of being deliberately ambiguous; equivocation; fickleness.

Pronunciation

/tɝd͡ʒɪvɚˈseɪʃən/ /tɜːd͡ʒɪvəˈseɪʃən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-tergiversation.wav

Word forms

tergiversation tergiversations

Etymology

From Latin tergiversātiō, from tergiversārī (“to turn one's back, to evade, to avoid”) + -tiō (“-tion: forming abstract nouns”). Equivalent to tergiversate + -ion.

Synonyms

perfidy prodition betrayal breach of promise breach of trust double-dealing Judas kiss perfidiousness Punic faith stab in the back swike tergiversation traitory treacherousness treachery treason

Related words

tergiversate
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