Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Prevarication

Pre-varˊi-ca′tion

,
Noun.
[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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Prevarication

PREVARICA'TION

,
Noun.
A shuffling or quibbling to evade the truth or the disclosure of truth; the practice of some trick for evading what is just or honorable; a deviation from the plain path of truth and fair dealing.
1.
In the civil law, the collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution.
2.
In common law, a seeming to undertake a thing falsely or deceitfully, for the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
3.
A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office or commission.

Definition 2024

prevarication

prevarication

See also: prévarication

English

Noun

prevarication ‎(plural prevarications)

  1. (now rare) Deviation from what is right or correct; transgression, perversion.
  2. Evasion of the truth; deceit, evasiveness.
    Prevarication became the order of the day in his government while truth was a stranger in those halls.
    • Cowper
      The august tribunal of the skies, where no prevarication shall avail.
    • 2012, The Economist, Oct 6th 2012, Charlemagne: Mysterious Mariano
      Mr Rajoy frustrates many with his prevarication over a fresh euro-zone bail-out, which now comes with a conditional promise from the European Central Bank (ECB) to help bring down Spain’s stifling borrowing costs.
  3. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.
  4. (law, historical, Ancient Rome) The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution.
  5. (law) A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Cowell to this entry?)

Related terms

Translations

Middle French

Noun

prevarication f (plural prevarications)

  1. prevarication (deviation from what is right)

Descendants

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman prevaricassion, Middle French prevarication, and their source, Latin praevāricātiō ‎(“collusion with an opponent; transgression; deceit”), from the stem of praevāricor.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /pɹɪvaɹɪˈkeɪʃən/
  • Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Similar Results