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prevarication

 - 3 dictionary results

pre⋅var⋅i⋅cate

  [pri-var-i-keyt]
Use prevarication in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing.
to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.
Origin:
1575–85; < L praevāricātus, ptp. of praevāricārī to straddle something, (of an advocate) collude with an opponent's advocate, equiv. to prae- pre- + vāricāre to straddle, deriv. of vārus bent outwards, bow-legged

Related forms:
pre⋅var⋅i⋅ca⋅tion, noun
pre⋅var⋅i⋅ca⋅tive, pre⋅var⋅i⋅ca⋅to⋅ry  [pri-var-i-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective

Synonyms:
evade, shift.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To prevarication
pre·var·i·cate   (prĭ-vār'ĭ-kāt')   
intr.v.   pre·var·i·cat·ed, pre·var·i·cat·ing, pre·var·i·cates
To stray from or evade the truth; equivocate. See Synonyms at lie2.

[Latin praevāricārī, praevāricāt- : prae-, pre- + vāricāre, to straddle (from vāricus, straddling, from vārus, bent).]
pre·var'i·ca'tion n., pre·var'i·ca'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

prevarication 
1382, "divergence from a right course, transgression," from O.Fr. prevaricacion (12c.), from L. prævaricationem (nom. prævaricatio) "a stepping out of line (of duty or behavior)," from prævaricatus, pp. of prævaricari "to make a sham accusation, deviate," lit. "walk crookedly," from præ "before" + varicare "to straddle," from varicus "straddling," from varus "bowlegged, knock-kneed." Meaning "evasion, quibbling" is attested from 1655.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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