Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
Evasion of the truth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: deceit, evasiveness
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Deviation from what is right or correct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: transgression, perversion
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ancient-Rome, countable, historical, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: lying, fabrication
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: falsification, misrepresentation
Narrower terms: fibbing, paltering
noun
intentionally vague or ambiguous
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: equivocation, evasiveness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ambiguity, equivocalness, untruthfulness
noun
a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: lie
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: falsehood, falsity, untruth
Narrower terms: fib, story, tale, tarradiddle, taradiddle, jactitation, whopper, walloper, white lie
History
Borrowed from Latin praevāricātiō (“collusion with an opponent; duplicity, deceit; violation of duty, transgression”, literally “stepping out of line”), from praevāricor (“to walk crookedly; go astray; transgress”) + -tās. The virtually obsolete sense of deviation or transgression may have been influenced by an earlier stage of borrowing via Middle English prevaricacioun, prevaricacion (“deviation from the law; transgression”) from Anglo-Norman prevaricaciun (“transgression, violation of correct conduct”).
Across languages
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
