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Search Results for 'prevarication'
prevaricate verb (prevaricated, prevaricating) intrans to avoid stating the truth or coming directly to the point; to behave or speak evasively. prevarication noun. prevaricator noun.
ETYMOLOGY: 17c: from Latin praevaricari, praevaricatus to walk with splayed legs, from varus bent.
prevaricate, procrastinate Both words are to do with failure to deal with a matter or to answer a question immediately or promptly, and they are sometimes confused. If you prevaricate, you respond to a question but avoid a direct or truthful answer, and you are therefore not being totally honest. If you procrastinate, you don't deal with the matter at all but put it off to some later time. |
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