Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tergiversate
Ter′gi-ver-sate
,Verb.
I.
[L.
tergiversatus
, p. p. of tergiversari
to turn one’s back, to shift; tergum
back + versare
, freq. of vertere
to turn. See Verse
.] To shift; to practice evasion; to use subterfuges; to shuffle.
[R.]
Bailey.
Webster 1828 Edition
Tergiversate
TER'GIVERSATE
,Verb.
I.
To shift; to practice evasion. [Little used.]
Definition 2024
tergiversate
tergiversate
English
Verb
tergiversate (third-person singular simple present tergiversates, present participle tergiversating, simple past and past participle tergiversated)
- (intransitive) To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.
- 1999, Philip McCutchan and Werner Levi, The Hoof, ISBN 0816600864, page 18:
- The officials soon concluded that the easiest way to remain on good terms with the court was to elude responsibility, to tergiversate, to prevent results.
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- (intransitive) To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize.
- 2002, Colin Morris and Peter Roberts, chapter 8, in Pilgrimage: The English Experience from Becket to Bunyan, ISBN 0521808111, page 221:
- Henry had hesitated before authorising the spoliation; he would soon tergiversate on other matters of doctrine but this act was irreversible.
-
Synonyms
- (to evade, obfuscate): prevaricate
- (to change sides): desert
Derived terms
Translations
to evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to deliberately obfuscate
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to change sides or affiliation; to apostatize
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Italian
Verb
tergiversate
- second-person plural present indicative of tergiversare
- second-person plural imperative of tergiversare
- feminine plural of tergiversato