prevaricate

Definitions

pre- (prae-) + varic- (from varicare 'to straddle, walk crookedly,' related to varus 'bent') + -ate. The literal image is walking crookedly rather than straight. A prevaricator was first a ploughman cutting a crooked furrow, then a lawyer who 'walked crooked' by colluding with the other side. Today it means to dodge the truth by being deliberately vague.

Why It Means This

The link to the var- family is 'crookedness.' Where varius means 'differing,' varicare meant going off the straight line — straddling, weaving. Prevaricate carries that into speech: instead of walking the straight path to the truth, the speaker zigzags around it. That is why it implies deliberate evasion, not honest uncertainty.

Common Collocations

• 1.prevaricate under questioning在盘问下支吾其辞
• 2.tend to prevaricate惯于含糊其辞
• 3.prevaricate wildly极力搪塞

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Stop prevaricating and tell me what really happened.

• 2.

  The minister prevaricated when asked about the missing funds.

• 3.

  Witnesses who prevaricate can damage their own credibility.

Easily Confused

prevaricate vs procrastinate — both feel like 'putting off,' but prevaricate is dodging the truth in speech (being evasive), while procrastinate is delaying an action or task. You prevaricate to avoid answering; you procrastinate to avoid doing.