tergiversate

verb

ter·​gi·​ver·​sate ˈtər-jə-vər-ˌsāt  ˌtər-ˈji-vər-ˌsāt 

-ˈgi-;

ˌtər-jə-ˈvər-

tergiversated; tergiversating

intransitive verb

: to engage in tergiversation

tergiversator

ˈtər-jə-vər-ˌsā-tər

ˌtər-ˈji-vər-ˌsā- 

-ˈgi-;

ˌtər-jə-ˈvər-

noun

Synonyms

• weasel
• beat about the bush
• equivocate

Examples of tergiversate in a Sentence

shamelessly tergiversating, the witness replied, “Well, it depends upon what your definition of ‘truth’ is”

Word History

Etymology

Latin tergiversatus, past participle of tergiversari to show reluctance, from tergum back + versare to turn, frequentative of vertere to turn — more at worth

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined above