A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Prevaricatioun, -ion, n. [e.m.E. and ME prevaricacio(u)n (Wyclif), -ation (1541), F. prévarication (12th c. in Littré), med. L. prevarication- error, transgression (13th-16th c. in Latham), L. prævāricātiōn- n. of action f. prævāricārī Prevaricat v.] a. Deviation from duty or from rectitude; transgression, sin; irregularity. b. Deviation from straightforwardness, evasiveness, lying, or an instance of these, a lie. —1567 G. Ball. 180.
Sen our Hely, in his office, Is lyke in preuaricatioun, He sall ressaif sic lyke justice 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 340.
Let vice ay in the awin cullouris be kend … Spairing na stait that maks preuaricatioun 1610 Sermon Preached at Glasgo; In the Generall Assembly 31.
We that fight the Lords battailes cannot disioyne our selves without prevarication and bootie 1619 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 276.
Gif any thing … be losit throgh negligence or prevaricatioun of the principall … he sall be holdin to [etc.] 1683 Cramond Kirk S. II 11 March.
Katharin Anderson … after … severall prevarications, at length confest ingenouslie, that [etc.] 1685 Rothesay Par. Rec. 60.
If anything might be brought to knowledge that could fasten a scandalous prevarication on her in the matter of her childs father
