/ ˈtɜːdʒɪvəseɪt; ˌtɜːdʒɪˈvɜːseɪt; NAmE tərˈdʒɪvərseɪt; ˈtɜːrdʒɪvərseɪt/ verb [ v ] ( formal )
1.
to make statements that deliberately hide the truth or that avoid answering a question directly
2.
to stop being loyal to one person, group, or religion and begin to support another
► ter·gi·ver·sa·tion / ˌtɜːdʒɪvəˈseɪʃn; NAmE ˌtɜːrdʒɪvərˈseɪʃn/ noun [ U ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin tergiversat- with one's back turned, from the verb tergiversari , from tergum back + vertere to turn.