pre ‧ var ‧ i ‧ cate /prɪˈværəkeɪt, prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive] formal
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of praevaricari 'to leave a straight course' , from varicari 'to spread the legs apart' ]
to try to hide the truth by not answering questions directly:
‘I’m not sure,’ he prevaricated.
—prevarication /prɪˌværəˈkeɪʃ ə n, prɪˌværɪˈkeɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable and countable]