prevaricate
UK: /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ | US: /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/
vi. to speak or act in an evasive or misleading way; to deliberately avoid the truth
prevaricate = pre<before> + varic<straddle> + ate<verb suffix>
- pre (Latin prae-): "before" or "ahead"
- varic (Latin varicare): "to straddle" or "walk crookedly" (from varus, "bent, knock-kneed")
- ate: verb-forming suffix indicating action
Etymology Origin:
The word prevaricate originates from Latin praevaricari, meaning "to walk crookedly" or "to deviate from duty." It originally described Roman officials who "straddled" their responsibilities dishonestly. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to describe evasive speech or deception—much like someone "straddling" the truth instead of confronting it directly.
The politician continued to prevaricate when asked about the scandal.
Don’t prevaricate—just give me a straight answer.
His tendency to prevaricate made him untrustworthy.
The witness began to prevaricate under cross-examination.
She accused him of prevaricating to avoid accountability.