prevaricate Hear it!

prevaricate Definition

pre·vari·cate (pri var′i kāt′)

intransitive verb -·cat′ed, -·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

prevaricate Related Forms

pre·var′i·ca′·tion noun pre·var′i·ca′·tor noun

prevaricate Synonyms

prevaricate

v.

equivocate, evade the truth, distort, falsify; see lie 1. See syn. study at lie.

prevaricate Usage Examples

Preposition: for

year: He accused Saddam of prevaricating for 12 years and failing to disarm his " horrific arsenal " of chemical and biological weapons.

Modifying Another Word

  • endlessly: We are endlessly prevaricating, comparing and experimenting instead of deciding, giving, and committing.
  • still: I'm still prevaricating over modes of transport to ALDC ' s meeting in Hebden Bridge tomorrow.
  • blatantly: He was blatantly prevaricating, in order to cause me delay.