tergiversate
[ tur-ji-ver-seyt ]
/ ˈtɜr dʒɪ vərˌseɪt /
verb (used without object), ter·gi·ver·sat·ed, ter·gi·ver·sat·ing.
to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc.; equivocate.
to turn renegade.
Origin of tergiversate
1645–55; < Latin
tergiversātus (past participle of
tergiversārī to turn one's back), equivalent to
tergi- (combining form of
tergum back) +
versātus, past participle of
versāre, frequentative of
vertere to turn; see
-ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM tergiversate
ter·gi·ver·sa·tion, noun ter·gi·ver·sa·tor, ter·gi·ver·sant [tur-ji-vur-suh nt] /ˌtɜr dʒɪˈvɜr sənt/, noun ter·gi·ver·sa·to·ry [tur-ji-vur-suh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˌtɜr dʒɪˈvɜr səˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectiveWords nearby tergiversate
British Dictionary definitions for tergiversate
tergiversate
/ (ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt) /
verb (intr)
to change sides or loyalties; apostatize
to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate
Derived forms of tergiversate
tergiversation, noun tergiversator or tergiversant (ˈtɜːdʒɪˌvɜːsənt), noun tergiversatory, adjectiveWord Origin for tergiversate
C17: from Latin
tergiversārī to turn one's back, from
tergum back +
vertere to turn