Tergiversate
/ˌtɜːr.dʒɪ.vərˈseɪt/noun
To evade the truth or hide one's true motives; to be deliberately ambiguous or evasive.
Did you know?The roots of 'tergiversate' trace back to Latin, meaning 'to turn one's back,' evoking the image of betrayal and deceit in communication.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
tergiversari
“to turn one's back, to evade”
Middle French
Middle French
tergiverser
“to evade, to be ambiguous”
16th Century
English
tergiversate
“to speak ambiguously; to avoid commitment”
19th Century
English
tergiversation
“the act of evading duty or responsibility”
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