intransitive verb prevaricated -·cat′ed, prevaricating -·cat′·ing

1. to turn aside from, or evade, the truth; equivocate
2. to tell an untruth; lie

Etymology: < L praevaricatus, pp. of praevaricari, to prevaricate, lit., to walk crookedly < prae-, before + varicare, to straddle < varicus, straddling < varus, bent apart < IE base *wa- > vary