tergiversator


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Related to tergiversator: tergiversating

ter·giv·er·sate

 (tər-jĭv′ər-sāt′, tûr′jĭ-vər-)
intr.v. ter·giv·er·sat·ed, ter·giv·er·sat·ing, ter·giv·er·sates
1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.
2. To change sides; apostatize.

[Latin tergiversārī, tergiversāt- : tergum, the back + versāre, to turn; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]

ter′gi·ver·sa′tion n.
ter′gi·ver·sa′tor (-sā′tər) n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.tergiversator - a respondent who avoids giving a clear direct answer
answerer, responder, respondent - someone who responds
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

tergiversator

noun
A person who has defected:
Informal: rat.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in periodicals archive ?
The minesweeper USS Leader (MSO 490) was equipped with an active acoustic simulator called "Tergiversator," developed by the Naval Underwater Sound Center in New London, Connecticut.
Seven devices were employed, including an updated version of Tergiversator; two SADSAC (Small Acoustic Device Simulating a Carrier) buoys, developed by the Naval Underwater Research and Development Center; and four NYVOs (Nymph's Voices), developed by Magnavox.