tergiversate

American  

[tur-ji-ver-seyt] / ˈtɜr dʒɪ vərˌseɪt /

verb (used without object)

tergiversated, tergiversating

1. to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc.; equivocate.

2. to turn renegade.

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tergiversate British  

/ ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt, ˈtɜːdʒɪˌvɜːsənt /

verb

1. to change sides or loyalties; apostatize

2. to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate

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Other Word Forms

• tergiversant noun
• tergiversation noun
• tergiversator noun
• tergiversatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of tergiversate

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin tergiversātus (past participle of tergiversārī “to turn one's back”), equivalent to tergi- (combining form of tergum “back”) + versātus, past participle of versāre, frequentative formed from versus, past participle of vertere “to turn”; -ate ¹

Explanation

Use the verb tergiversate when you need a fancy way to describe someone who's beating around the bush, or being deliberately unclear. A politician who really doesn't want to answer a reporter's question is likely to tergiversate, or talk and talk without ever taking a definitive stand. Your relatives may even tergiversate at holiday gatherings when uncomfortable topics come up. The Latin root word, tergiversari, literally means "to turn one's back," or more figuratively, "to be evasive."