prevarication
pronunciation
How to pronounce prevarication in British English:
UK [prɪˌværɪ'keɪʃn]
How to pronounce prevarication in American English:
US [prɪˌværɪ'keɪʃn]
-
- Noun:
- a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
- intentionally vague or ambiguous
- the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
Word Origin
- prevarication (n.)
- late 14c., "divergence from a right course, transgression," from Old French prevaricacion "breaking of God's laws, disobedience (to the Faith)" (12c., Modern French prévarication) and directly from Latin praevaricationem (nominative praevaricatio) "duplicity, collusion, a stepping out of line (of duty or behavior)," noun of action from past participle stem of praevaricari "to make a sham accusation, deviate," literally "walk crookedly," in Church Latin, "to transgress," from prae "before" (see pre-) + varicare "to straddle," from varicus "straddling," from varus "bowlegged, knock-kneed" (see varus). Meaning "evasion, quibbling" is attested from 1650s.
Example
- 1. Behind the paralysis in washington and prevarication in berlin lies a troubling thought .
- 2. The longer negotiations drag on , the greater the risk of permanent prevarication .
- 3. As for iran 's nuclear programme , the president 's outstretched hand has been greeted with more prevarication in tehran .