Defn: To undertake a thing falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
Syn. — To evade; equivocate; quibble; shuffle. — Prevaricate, Evade, Equivocate. One who evades a question ostensibly answers it, but really turns aside to some other point. He who equivocate uses words which have a double meaning, so that in one sense he can claim to have said the truth, though he does in fact deceive, and intends to do it. He who prevaricates talks all round the question, hoping to "dodge" it, and disclose nothing.
PREVARICATE
Pre*var"i*cate, v. t.
Defn: To evade by a quibble; to transgress; to pervert. [Obs.] Jer.
Taylor.
PREVARICATION
Pre*var`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. praevaricatio: cf. F. prévarication.]
1. The act of prevaricating, shuffling, or quibbling, to evade the truth or the disclosure of truth; a deviation from the truth and fair dealing. The august tribunal of the skies, where no prevarication shall avail. Cowper.
2. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.
3. (Law) (a) (Roman Law) The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution. (b) (Common Law) A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it. Cowell.
PREVARICATOR
Pre*var"i*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L. praevaricator: cf. F. prévaricateur.]
1. One who prevaricates.