prevaricate

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++pre·var·i·cate /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ verb [intransitive, transitive] formal  AVOIDto try to hide the truth by not answering questions directly 支吾，含糊其词 ‘I’m not sure, ’ he prevaricated. “我不肯定。”他支支吾吾道。 —prevarication /prɪˌværɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun [countable, uncountable]→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

prevaricate• Judge Greene said Tate was prevaricating to avoid having to testify against his ex-boss.• Without a text to assist them they may prevaricate too long before facing the brutal truth.Origin prevaricate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of praevaricari “to leave a straight course”, from varicari “to spread the legs apart”

pre·var·i·cate verbChineseSyllable  

directly questions to truth not Corpus try hide the answering to by

prevaricate
pre‧var‧i‧cate /prɪˈværəkeɪt, prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ verb [intransitive and transitive] formalto try to hide the truth by not answering questions directly:
    ‘I’m not sure,’ he prevaricated.
—prevarication /prɪˌværəˈkeɪʃən, prɪˌværɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun [uncountable and countable]

pre·vari·cateBrE /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ 🔊NAmE /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ 🔊 verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they prevaricate BrE /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ 🔊 NAmE /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/ 🔊present simple - he / she / it prevaricates BrE /prɪˈværɪkeɪts/ 🔊 NAmE /prɪˈværɪkeɪts/ 🔊past simple prevaricated BrE /prɪˈværɪkeɪtɪd/ 🔊 NAmE /prɪˈværɪkeɪtɪd/ 🔊past participle prevaricated BrE /prɪˈværɪkeɪtɪd/ 🔊 NAmE /prɪˈværɪkeɪtɪd/ 🔊 -ing form prevaricating BrE /prɪˈværɪkeɪtɪŋ/ 🔊 NAmE /prɪˈværɪkeɪtɪŋ/ 🔊 [intransitive, transitive] (+ speech) (formal) to avoid giving a direct answer to a question in order to hide the truth 支吾搪塞；闪烁其词；吞吞吐吐 SYN beat about the bush ◆Stop prevaricating and come to the point. 别吞吞吐吐的，有话快说吧。🔊🔊▸ pre·vari·ca·tion BrE /prɪˌværɪˈkeɪʃn/ 🔊NAmE /prɪˌværɪˈkeɪʃn/ 🔊 noun [uncountable, countable]