Tergiversation
/ˌtɜːr.dʒɪ.vɚˈseɪ.ʃən/noun
The act of evading straightforward action or clear statement; the practice of being deliberately ambiguous or misleading.
Did you know?The roots of 'tergiversation' reveal a world where truth-telling was often seen as a risk, leading many to become masters of evasion and ambiguity in speech and action.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
tergiversari
“to turn aside, evade.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
tergiversatio
“a turning aside, evasiveness.”
Middle French
Middle French
tergiversation
“the act of avoiding a commitment or clear statement.”
17th Century
English
tergiversation
“the act of being evasive or ambiguous, particularly in matters of truth.”
Modern English
English
tergiversation
“the ongoing practice of evading straightforwardness in discourse.”
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