Meaning of prevaricate in English

1. Pronunciation

   /prəˈvɛrəˌkeɪt/

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1. Verb

   prevaricate

   Etymology

   mid 16th century (earlier (Middle English) as prevarication and prevaricator), in the sense ‘go astray, transgress’: from Latin praevaricat-‘walked crookedly, deviated’, from the verb praevaricari, from prae‘before’ + varicari‘straddle’

   Definitions

   1. be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

   Derived terms

   • equivocation
   • equivocator
   • evasion
   • evasiveness
   • fabrication
   • fibbing
   • hedger
   • liar
   • lie
   • lying
   • paltering
   • prevarication
   • prevaricator
   • tergiversation

Browse dictionary

• prevalent
• prevalence
• prevailing wind
• prevailing westerly
• prevaricate
• prevarication
• prevaricator
• prevenient
• prevent