Prevaricate (verb)
pre-var-i-kayt
Speak or act in an evasive way.
Mid 16th century (earlier ( Middle English) as prevarication and prevaricator), in the sense ‘go astray, transgress’: from Latin praevaricat- ‘walked crookedly, deviated’, from the verb praevaricari, from prae ‘before’ + varicari ‘straddle’.
Example sentences
“Just get the paperwork done and stop prevaricating!”
“I know you’re nervous but don’t prevaricate, best over and done with.”
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