/ prɪˈværɪkeɪt; NAmE / verb
( formal ) to avoid giving a direct answer to a question in order to hide the truth
SYN beat about the bush :
[ v ]
Stop prevaricating and come to the point.
[also v speech ]
► pre·vari·ca·tion / prɪˌværɪˈkeɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U , C ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (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.