Definition of "tergiversation" [ter•gi•ver•sa•tion]

• The act of abandoning something or someone, of changing sides; desertion; betrayal. (noun)
• The act of evading any clear course of action or speech, of being deliberately ambiguous; equivocation; fickleness. (noun)

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• "ANC, as opposed to the NNP's "tergiversation", DA leader Tony Leon said on Friday."
• "Van Schalkwyk and his conduct in South African public life over the past decade was completely defined by an obscure old English word dating from the sixteenth century - "tergiversation"."
• ""tergiversation" and it passed to the girl from the Red Mill, who spelled it without hesitation, and correctly, Helen applauded softly, while Tom audibly exclaimed: "Good for Ruthie!""