Word of the Day 10.25.9

tergiversate

ter·giv·er·sate (tr-jvr-st, tûrj-vr-)

intr.v. ter·giv·er·sat·ed, ter·giv·er·sat·ing, ter·giv·er·sates

1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.

2. To change sides; apostatize.

[Latin tergiversr, tergiverst- : tergum, the back + versre, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]

tergi·ver·sation n.

tergi·ver·sator (-str) n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Verb

1.

tergiversate – be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

misinform, mislead – give false or misleading information to

2.

tergiversate – abandon one’s beliefs or allegiances

repudiate, disown, renounce – cast off; “She renounced her husband”; “The parents repudiated their son”

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

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Posted on October 25, 2009 by admin

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