tergiversation是什么意思

tergiversation

[,tɝdʒəvɚ'seʃən]

1. tergi- + vers- + -ation.
2. 字面含义：turn one's back, turn one's back on sth.

tergiversation (n.): turning dishonestly from a straightforward action or statement; shifting, shuffling, equivocation, 1560s, from Latin tergiversationem (nominative tergiversatio) "a shifting, evasion, declining, refusing," from past participle stem of tergiversari "turn one's back on, evade," from tergum "the back" (of unknown origin) + versare "to spin, turn" (see versus).