| 释义 |
▪ I. † preˈvaricate, a. Obs. rare.
Also præ-.
[ad. L. prævāricāt-us, pa. pple. of prævāricārī: see next.]
Perverted; perverse.
1635R. Brathwait Arcad. Pr. ii. 58 In this case (see my prevaricate misery!) would I not either be led or driven by any. 1650Charleton Paradoxes Prol. 7 The Divine..met with a cure for the nicety of his Conscience, from a prævaricate Adversary.
▪ II. prevaricate, v.|prɪˈværɪkeɪt|
Also 7 præ-.
[f. L. prævāric-ārī to walk crookedly, hence, to deviate from a straight course, hence from the path of duty; spec. of an advocate, to practise collusion; in eccl. L. to transgress, f. præ, pre- A. + vāricāre to spread the legs apart, straddle (f. vāricus straddling, f. vārus bent, knock-kneed + -icus, -ic): see -ate3.]
I. Intransitive senses.
†1. To go aside from the right course, method, or mode of action; to swerve from the proper course; to deviate, go astray, transgress. Obs.
1582N.T. (Rhem.) Acts i. 25 Shew..whom thou hast chosen, to take the place of this ministerie and Apostleship, from the which Iudas hath prevaricated. 1610B. Jonson Alch. ii. iii, If you..should now preuaricate, And, to your owne particular lusts, employ So great, and catholique a blisse. 1657–83Evelyn Hist. Relig. (1850) II. 305 How widely they differ and prevaricate from the wholesome precepts and doctrine delivered. 1681Wharton Soul World Wks. (1683) 651 Motion..might easily prevaricate, and wander, unless it were Ruled by the Intellect.
2. To deviate from straightforwardness; to act or speak evasively; to quibble, shuffle, equivocate.
a1631Donne in Select. (1840) 257 Follow not these men in their severity,..nor in their facility to disguise and prevaricate in things that are. 1645E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (1662) 309 Let therefore all men no longer prævaricate with their Conscience (in matters of some inconsiderable scruples). 1749Fielding Tom Jones xviii. viii, Do not hesitate nor prevaricate; but answer faithfully and truly to every question I ask. 1841James Brigand xxxii, Perhaps we may put it in such a way as to prevent his prevaricating. 1865J. H. Ingraham Pillar of Fire (1872) 392 It is impossible..for me either to conceal or to prevaricate.
†3. Law.
a. To betray the cause of a client by collusion with an opponent.
b. To undertake a matter falsely and deceitfully in order to defeat the object professed to be promoted. Obs.
1646in Somers Tracts I. 33 Nor is it an unusual thing for a Lawyer to be of Council with one Party, and to prevaricate, and be of Confederacy under-hand with the adverse Party. 1656Blount Glossogr. s.v. Calumniate, He that undertakes ones sute, and either will not urge reasons in the behalf of his Clyent, or answer the Objections of his adversary, when he is able, is said to Prevaricate, i. to play the false Proctor. 1672Cowell's Interpr., Prevaricate, is when a man falsly and deceitfully seems to undertake a thing, ea intentione that he may destroy it. a1716South Serm. (1744) XI. 182 For should a brother prevaricate and prove false, nature itself would seem to..upbraid his unhuman perfidiousness.
†4. In etymological sense: To walk or go crookedly; in quot., to plough crookedly. Obs.
1801Ranken Hist. France I. 424 They were careful not to prevaricate, or make crooked serpentine ridges; but to make straight furrows and ridges.
II. Transitive senses.
†5. To deviate from, transgress (a ‘law’, etc.).
1596Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 610/1 The lawes..are sithence either disanulled, or quite prevaricated through chaunge and alterations of times. 1604T. Wright Passions vi. 297 When the Soule did not prevaricate the Lawe of God, or passe the limittes of Reason.
†6. To turn (anything) from the straight course, application, or meaning; to pervert. Obs.
1647Ward Simp. Cobler 2 He will therefore bestirre him to prevaricate Evangelicall Truths, and Ordinances. 1660Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. i. ii. rule viii, He may not prevaricate this duty of a judge. 1682Dryden Relig. Laici Pref., Wks. (Globe) 189. 1705 Sequel xiv, O! Holy Times—when purity our Youth, And P[riests] prevaricate the Sacred Truth, Desert the Ch[urc]h for meaner ends unknown. |