tergiversate

ter·giv·er·sate

 (tər-jĭv′ər-sāt′, tûr′jĭ-vər-)

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.

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[Latin tergiversārī, tergiversāt- : tergum, the back + versāre, to turn; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]

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ter′gi·ver·sa′tion n.

ter′gi·ver·sa′tor (-sā′tər) n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tergiversate

(ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt)

vb (intr)

1. to change sides or loyalties; apostatize

2. to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate

[C17: from Latin tergiversārī to turn one's back, from tergum back + vertere to turn]

ˌtergiverˈsation n

ˈtergiverˌsator, tergiversant n

ˌtergiˈversatory adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ter•gi•ver•sate

(ˈtɜr dʒɪ vərˌseɪt, tərˈdʒɪv ər-)

v.i. -sat•ed, -sat•ing.

1. to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc.; equivocate.

2. to turn renegade.

[1645–55; < Latin tergiversātus, past participle of tergiversārī to turn one's back]

ter`gi•ver•sa′tion, n.

ter′gi•ver•sa`tor, (-ˈvɜr sənt) n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

tergiversate

Past participle: tergiversated
Gerund: tergiversating

Imperative

tergiversate

tergiversate

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	tergiversate - be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information beat around the bush, equivocate, palter, prevaricate misinform, mislead - give false or misleading information to
	2.	tergiversate - abandon one's beliefs or allegiances apostatise, apostatize repudiate, disown, renounce - cast off; "She renounced her husband"; "The parents repudiated their son"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

tergiversate

verb

1. To use evasive or deliberately vague language:

equivocate, euphemize, hedge, shuffle, weasel.

Informal: pussyfoot, waffle.

Idioms: beat about the bush, mince words.

2. To abandon one's cause or party usually to join another:

apostatize, defect, desert, renegade, turn.

Slang: rat.

Idioms: change sides, turn one's coat.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

odpadnoutpřeběhnoutvytáčet

kääntäätakki

changer de campdéroberretourner sa chemisetergiverser

tergiversare

tergiversate

vi (form, hum) → dauernd seine Gesinnung ändern

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007