English
Etymology
Latin tergiversatus "to turn one's back, to shift"; tergum "back" + versare, frequentive of vertere "to turn."
Pronunciation
(UK) IPA|/�t��d�ɪv�seɪt/
(US) enPR|/t�r-jɪv'�r-s�t/, IPA|/t��d�ɪv�seɪt/, SAMPA|/t@`"dZIv@`seIt/
audio|en-us-tergiversate.ogg|Audio (US)
Verb
en-verb|tergiversat|ing
#intransitive To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to deliberately obfuscate.
#intransitive To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize.
Synonyms
desert (2)
prevaricate (1)
Derived terms
tergiversation
Translations
French: tergiverser
Ido: hezitar; eludar
mid
Spanish: tergiversar
it:tergiversate
vi:tergiversate
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