Pre-vāri'-ēā'tion, n.

n. [Lat. prævaricatio, Fr. prævarication, Sp. prevaricacion, It. prevaricazione.]

1. The act of shuffling or quibbling to evade the truth or the disclosure of truth; a deviation from the plain path of truth and fair dealing.
2. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office or commission.
3. (Law.) (a.) (Civil Law.) The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution. (b.) (Common Law.) A seeming to undertake a thing falsely or deceitfully, for the purpose of defeating or destroying it.

Cowell.