prevaricate
UK[prɪˈvarɪkeɪt]US[prɪˈværəˌkeɪt]
v
To avoid telling the truth or giving a direct answer by speaking in a misleading or evasive way.
Morpheme Breakdown
pre
varic
ate
pre
before, in front of
varic
straddle, walk crookedly
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
The word "prevaricate" originates from the Latin verb praevaricari, which literally meant "to walk crookedly" or "to straddle something." This term was a compound of prae- ("before") and varicare ("to straddle"). In ancient Roman legal contexts, praevaricari took on a metaphorical sense, describing the crooked behavior of an advocate who colluded with the opposing side, thereby deviating from a straight path. Over time, this imagery of physical crookedness and deviation evolved into the modern abstract meaning of speaking evasively or straying from the truth, capturing the essence of avoiding a direct, "straight" answer.
Analysis
Structure: pre (before, in front of) + varic (straddle, walk crookedly) + ate (verb suffix)
- pre: A prefix from Latin prae-, meaning "before, in front of."
- varic: A root from Latin varicare, meaning "to straddle, to walk with legs apart," derived from varus, meaning "bent, knock-kneed, crooked."
- ate: A verb-forming suffix from Latin -atus, used to form verbs meaning "to act in a specified manner."
Examples
When questioned about the missing funds, the official began to prevaricate and change the subject.
Don't prevaricate; a simple yes or no will suffice.
His tendency to prevaricate made him an unreliable witness in court.