tergiversation

/,tə:dʤivə:'seiʃn/
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tergiversation

The politician's tergiversation was evident in his evasive answers.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The act of abandoning a party or cause: A formal term for the act of deserting a political party, allegiance, or set of principles.
    • Falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language: The act of deliberately being evasive, changing one's story, or speaking in a way that is intentionally unclear to mislead or avoid commitment.
Usage
  • The word "tergiversation" is a formal and somewhat rare noun, typically used in political, philosophical, or academic contexts to describe acts of betrayal or deliberate equivocation.
  • It describes both a physical/ideological desertion and a verbal evasion.
Examples
  • Abandoning a cause:
    • His sudden tergiversation shocked his colleagues, who had counted on his unwavering support for the policy.
    • The history of the revolution is marked by frequent tergiversation among its early leaders.
  • Evasion through ambiguous language:
    • The diplomat's speech was a masterpiece of tergiversation, skillfully avoiding any direct answer to the crucial question.
    • Frustrated by the witness's constant tergiversation, the lawyer demanded a simple 'yes' or 'no'.
Advanced Usage
  • "Political tergiversation": Often used to describe the act of a politician switching parties or principles for personal gain.
    • The senator's career was marred by accusations of political tergiversation.
  • "Verbal tergiversation": Highlights the use of language to evade or deceive.
    • The contract was full of verbal tergiversation, hiding unfavorable terms in complex clauses.
Variants and Related Words
  • Tergiversate (verb): To desert a cause, party, or religion; to use evasive or ambiguous language.
    • The official was accused of trying to tergiversate when pressed for details.
  • Tergiversator (noun): A person who tergiversates; a renegade or equivocator.
Synonyms
  • Defection: The desertion of one's country or cause.
  • Equivocation: The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself.
  • Prevarication: The act of lying or deviating from the truth.
  • Apostasy: The abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.
Antonyms
  • Constancy: The quality of being faithful and dependable.
  • Fidelity: Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief.
  • Candor: The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.
Related Phrases and Concepts
  • "To be guilty of tergiversation": A formal accusation of betrayal or evasion.
    • The historian argued that the general's memoirs were an attempt to conceal his earlier tergiversation.
  • While not a phrasal verb, the related verb "to tergiversate" functions similarly in sentences to describe the act.
tergiversation

The politician's tergiversation was evident in his evasive answers.

Noun
  1. the act of abandoning a party for cause
  2. falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language

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