PREVARICATE

[pre.var.i.cate] vi -cat.ed ; -cat.ing [L praevaricatus, pp. of praevaricari to act in collusion, lit., to straddle, fr. prae- + varicare to straddle, fr. varus bowlegged] (ca. 1631): to deviate from the truth: equivocate syn see lie -- pre.var.i.ca.tion n -- pre.var.i.ca.tor n