Definition/Meaning of prevaricate

• English - Verb: prevaricate ( third-person singular simple present prevaricates , present participle prevaricating , simple past and past participle prevaricated ) ( transitive , intransitive , obsolete ) To deviate , transgress; to go astray (from). ( intransitive ) To shift or turn from direct speech or behaviour; to evade the truth; to waffle or be (intentionally) ambiguous . The people saw the politician…
• English - Alternative forms: prævaricate ( archaic )
• English - Etymology: From the participle stem of Latin praevāricārī , from prae- with vāricāre , from vārus , from Proto-Indo-European *wā- ( “ to bend apart ” ) (the root of ‘various’).
• English - Pronunciation: ( UK ) IPA (key) : /prɪˈvaɹɪkeɪt/ ( US ) IPA (key) : /pɹɪˈvæɹɪkeɪt/ , /pɹɪˈvɛɹɪkeɪt/
• English - See also: lie