tergiversation
pronunciation
How to pronounce tergiversation in British English:
UK [ˌtɜ:dʒɪvə'seɪʃn]
How to pronounce tergiversation in American English:
US [ˌtɜdʒɪvə'seɪʃn]
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- Noun:
- falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language
- the act of abandoning a party or cause
Word Origin
- tergiversation (n.)
- turning dishonestly from a straightforward action or statement; shifting, shuffling, equivocation, 1560s, from Latin tergiversationem (nominative tergiversatio) "a shifting, evasion, declining, refusing," from past participle stem of tergiversari "turn one's back on, evade," from tergum "the back" (of unknown origin) + versare "to spin, turn" (see versus).