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tergiversate

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
16
Words With Friends
18
Letters
12
Pronunciation
/ˈtɜːd͡ʒɪvəseɪt/ (UK)
See all 2 pronunciations
/ˈtɜːd͡ʒɪvəseɪt/ (UK) · /tɝˈd͡ʒɪvɝseɪt/ (US)

Definition of tergiversate

3 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

verb

  1. (intransitive)To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.
    “The officials soon concluded that the easiest way to remain on good terms with the court was to elude responsibility, to tergiversate, to prevent results.”
See all 3 definitions

verb

  1. (intransitive)To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.
    “The officials soon concluded that the easiest way to remain on good terms with the court was to elude responsibility, to tergiversate, to prevent results.”
  2. (intransitive)To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize.
    “Henry had hesitated before authorising the spoliation; he would soon tergiversate on other matters of doctrine but this act was irreversible.”
  3. (intransitive, rare)To flee by turning one's back.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin tergiversātus, perfect active participle of tergiversor (“to evade, to avoid, to turn one's back on”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from tergum (“back, hind”) + versor (“to turn”). Compare French tergiverser.

Words you can make from tergiversate

200+ playable · top: ERGATIVES (13 pts)

Best play ergatives 13 points

10-letter words

1 word

9-letter words

10 words

8-letter words

41 words

7-letter words

109 words

6-letter words

38 words

Hooks

2 extensions · 2 back

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