Hypertext Webster Gateway: "prevarication"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prevarication \Pre*var`i*ca"tion\, n. [L. praevaricatio: cf. F.
pr['e]varication.]
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
prevarication
n 1: a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth [syn: {lie}]
2: intentionally vague or ambiguous [syn: {equivocation}, {evasiveness}]
3: the deliberate act of deviating from the truth [syn: {lying},
{fabrication}]
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