tergiversation

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tergiversation
1: evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement; equivocation
2: desertion of a cause, position, party, or faith

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 4 October 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

sounds like a typical FAP...

― Brigadier Rainham Steele, Mrs (blueski), Monday, 4 October 2004 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Did You Know?
Shuffle. Shift. Evade. When you're trying hard not to tell someone something, you tend to be as ambiguous and unclear as you can be. The ancient Romans knew that, and they had a word for such subterfuge: the verb tergiversari, which meant "to turn the back, shuffle, evade." That Latin root gave English the verb "tergiversate" (which has been around since at least 1654) and the noun "tergiversation" (a slightly older term whose first known use dates to 1570).

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 4 October 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

If I ever had a famous band (ah, the dream), one of my goals was to have a massive hit single called "Animadversion."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 October 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Is "animadversion" a severe dislike of Animotion?

― Nemo (JND), Monday, 4 October 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

an·i·mad·ver·sion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-md-vûrzhn, -shn)
n.
Strong criticism.
A critical or censorious remark: “entertained serious animadversions concerning the U.S.S.R. and its behavior on the international scene” (Adam B. Ulam).

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[Latin animadversi, animadversin-, from animadversus, past participle of animadvertere, to turn the mind toward. See animadvert.]

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 October 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

So yes, it could be anti-Animotion if desired.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 October 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll keep that one in mind next time I'm playing Scrabble and GIVERS is on the board.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Monday, 4 October 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

What are the chances of GWB levelling an animadversion of tergiversation at Kerry in the next debate?

― briania (briania), Monday, 4 October 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

My tongue hurts just reading that sentence.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 4 October 2004 16:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I would like to hear GWB try to put it in those words.

― Nemo (JND), Monday, 4 October 2004 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

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