prevarication

The story

1. Anglo-Norman · derived fromprevaricaciun“transgression, violation of correct conduct”
2. Middle English · derived fromprevaricacioun
3. Latin · borrowed frompraevāricātiō“collusion with an opponent; duplicity, deceit; violation of duty, transgression”
4. English todayprevarication

Borrowed from Latin praevāricātiō (“collusion with an opponent; duplicity, deceit; violation of duty, transgression”, literally “stepping out of line”), from praevāricor (“to walk crookedly; go astray; transgress”) + -tās. The virtually obsolete sense of deviation or transgression may have been influenced by an earlier stage of borrowing via Middle English prevaricacioun, prevaricacion (“deviation from the law; transgression”) from Anglo-Norman prevaricaciun (“transgression, violation of correct conduct”).