Prevaricate
/prɪˈvær.ɪ.keɪt/noun
To speak or act in an evasive way.
Did you know?The term 'prevaricate' comes from a Latin word meaning 'to straddle' — hinting at a mind caught between truths, evasion, and deception.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
praevaricari
“to straddle or walk crookedly, implying deceit or evasion.”
14th Century
Middle English
prevaricaten
“to evade or act deceitfully.”
15th Century
Middle English
prevaricacioun
“the act of evading the truth, often in a judicial context.”
Modern English
English
prevaricate
“to speak or act evasively, deliberately avoiding the truth.”