Where does “prevarication” come from?

Prevarication comes from Old French prevaricassion, meaning to deviate or transgress.

prevarication (English): Deviation from what is right or correct;...

Definitions

  1. Deviation from what is right or correct;...

Ancestry of “prevarication”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpraevāricātiōviolation of duty
2Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
3Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
4Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
5Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
6Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
7Latincalceusshoe
8Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
9Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξEvery word from Latin -tiōEvery word from Latin dis-