tergiversate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
    beat around the bush; equivocate; palter; prevaricate.
  2. verb abandon one's beliefs or allegiances
    apostatize; apostatise.

WordNet

Ter"gi*ver*sate intransitive verb
Etymology
L. tergiversatus, p.p. of tergiversari to turn one's back, to shift; tergum back + versare, freq. of vertere to turn. See Verse.
Definitions
  1. To shift; to practice evasion; to use subterfuges; to shuffle. R. Bailey.

Webster 1913