Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tergiversate

/tɝˈd͡ʒɪvɝseɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: ter-giver-sate
IPA: /tɝˈd͡ʒɪvɝseɪt/

16

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.

Intransitive verb

verb

To change sides or affiliation; to apostatize.

Intransitive verb

verb

To flee by turning one's back.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"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."
"Henry had hesitated before authorising the spoliation; he would soon tergiversate on other matters of doctrine but this act was irreversible."

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.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /tɝˈd͡ʒɪvɝseɪt/
British English: /ˈtɜːd͡ʒɪvəseɪt/

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

tergiversates (present, singular) tergiversating (participle, present) tergiversated (participle, past) tergiversated (past)

Frequently Paired Words

tergiversation tergiversator

Synonyms

prevaricate beat around the bush desert apostatize apostatise equivocate palter

Questions

How do you pronounce tergiversate?: The recorded pronunciation is /tɝˈd͡ʒɪvɝseɪt/.
What does tergiversate mean?: To evade, to equivocate using subterfuge; to obfuscate in a deliberate manner.
Where does tergiversate come from?: 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.

How to pronounce tergiversate

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