tergiversate

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• Tergiversate — Ter gi*ver*sate, v. 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. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• tergiversate — I verb apostatize, avoid, be uncertain, be unsure, change one s mind, change sides, desert, dodge, equivocate, evade, hedge, quibble, recant, renege, renounce, shift, straddle, turn renegade, use evasions, use subterfuge, vacillate II index… …   Law dictionary

• tergiversate — (v.) 1650s, from L. tergiversatus, pp. of tergiversari be evasive, lit. to turn one s back (see TERGIVERSATION (Cf. tergiversation)). Related: Tergiversated; tergiversating …   Etymology dictionary

• tergiversate — [tʉr′ji vər sāt΄] vi. tergiversated, tergiversating [< L tergiversatus, pp. of tergiversari, to turn one s back, decline, shift < tergum, the back (see TERGUM) + versari, to turn: see VERSE] 1. to desert a cause, party, etc.; become a… …   English World dictionary

• tergiversate — intransitive verb ( sated; sating) Etymology: Latin tergiversatus, past participle of tergiversari to show reluctance, from tergum back + versare to turn, frequentative of vertere to turn more at worth Date: 1590 to engage in tergiversation •… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• tergiversate — tergiversation, n. tergiversator, tergiversant /terr ji verr seuhnt/, n. tergiversatory /terr ji verr seuh tawr ee, tohr ee/, adj. /terr ji veuhr sayt /, v.i., tergiversated, tergiversating. 1. to change repeatedly one s attitude or opinions with …   Universalium

• tergiversate — verb /ˈtɜːdʒɪvəseɪt,tɝˈdʒɪvɝseɪt/ a) To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to deliberately obfuscate. b) To change sides or affiliation; to …   Wiktionary

• tergiversate — Synonyms and related words: alternate, apostatize, around the bush, back and fill, beat about, beg the question, bicker, boggle, cavil, change, choplogic, come round, desert, dither, do a flip flop, do an about face, dodge, duck, equivocate,… …   Moby Thesaurus

• tergiversate — (Roget s Thesaurus II) verb 1. To use evasive or deliberately vague language: equivocate, euphemize, hedge, shuffle, weasel. Informal: pussyfoot, waffle. Idioms: beat about (or around) the bush, mince words. See CLEAR. 2. To abandon one s cause… …   English dictionary for students

• tergiversate — [ tə:dʒɪvəˌseɪt, və:seɪt] verb 1》 make evasive statements; equivocate. 2》 change one s loyalties. Derivatives tergiversation noun tergiversator noun Origin C17: from L. tergiversat , tergiversari turn one s back …   English new terms dictionary

• tergiversate — v 1. vacillate, shilly shally, seesaw. Inf. flip flop, blow hot and cold, waver; shift, hedge, fence, beat around the bush; equivocate, prevaricate, quibble, Inf. waffle, fudge, palter, lie; evade, dodge, elude, weasel out, shuffle; qualify, trim …   A Note on the Style of the synonym finder