tergiversate

[ tur-ji-ver-seyt ]
/ ˈtɜr dʒɪ vərˌseɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR tergiversate ON THESAURUS.COM

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/, adjective

Words nearby tergiversate

tereus, terf, terfel, tergal, tergite, tergiversate, tergum, terhune, teriyaki, term, term day

Content related to tergiversation

Weasel Words And Other Ways We Avoid Telling The Truth Sometimes a lie isn't a lie, it's an avoidance of the truth. People have learned many ways to skirt the direct truth, and we're here to expose them for you.
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Words related to tergiversation

lack, deficiency, dereliction, disaffection, apostasy, disloyalty, severance, divorce, desertion, rebellion, retreat, failure, separation, parting, rejection, failing, revolt, estrangement, alienation, withdrawal

Example sentences from the Web for tergiversation

British Dictionary definitions for tergiversation

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, adjective

Word Origin for tergiversate

C17: from Latin tergiversārī to turn one's back, from tergum back + vertere to turn