prevarication

[ pri-var-i-key-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act of prevaricating, or lying:
Seeing the expression on his mother's face, Nathan realized this was no time for prevarication.
a false or deliberate misstatement; lie:
Her many prevarications had apparently paid off; she was free to go.

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Word History and Origins

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle French, from Latin praevāricātiō-, stem of praevāricātiō “collusion,” equivalent to praevāricāt(us), past participle of praevāricārī “to collude something, (of an advocate) collude with an opponent's advocate” + -iō -ion ( def ); prevaricate ( def )

Related Words

dishonesty
equivocation
falsehood

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