tergiversation

Variant of tergiversate

tergiversate definition

ter·gi·ver·sate (tʉr′ji vər sāt′)

intransitive verb tergiversated -·sat′ed, tergiversating -·sat′·ing

  1. to desert a cause, party, etc.; become a renegade; apostatize
  2. to use evasions or subterfuge; equivocate

Etymology: < L tergiversatus, pp. of tergiversari, to turn one's back, decline, shift < tergum, the back (see tergum) + versari, to turn: see verse

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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