prevaricate
[ pri-var-i-keyt ]
/ prɪˈvær ɪˌkeɪt /
verb (used without object), pre·var·i·cat·ed, pre·var·i·cat·ing.
to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.
Origin of prevaricate
1575–85; < Latin
praevāricātus, past participle of
praevāricārī to straddle something, (of an advocate) collude with an opponent's advocate, equivalent to
prae-
pre- +
vāricāre to straddle, derivative of
vārus bent outwards, bow-legged
OTHER WORDS FROM prevaricate
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] /prɪˈvær ɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective un·pre·var·i·cat·ing, adjectiveWords nearby prevaricate
prevailing,
prevailing westerlies,
prevailing wind,
prevalence,
prevalent,
prevaricate,
prevarication,
prevaricator,
prevenient,
prevenient grace,
prevent
Example sentences from the Web for prevaricate
British Dictionary definitions for prevaricate
prevaricate
/ (prɪˈværɪˌkeɪt) /
verb
(intr)
to speak or act falsely or evasively with intent to deceive
Derived forms of prevaricate
prevarication, noun prevaricator, nounWord Origin for prevaricate
C16: from Latin
praevāricārī to walk crookedly, from
prae beyond +
vāricare to straddle the legs; compare Latin
vārus bent