tergiversate

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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

tergiversator

2 of 2

noun

ter·​gi·​ver·​sa·​tor ˈtərjə̇(ˌ)vərˌsātər 

(ˌ)tərˈjivər- sometimes (ˌ)tərˈgi-

plural -s

: one that tergiversates : turncoat, renegade

Synonyms of tergiversate

Verb

• weasel
• equivocate

Examples of tergiversate in a Sentence

Verb

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Latin, from tergiversatus + -or

First Known Use

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined above