PREVARICATION

Praevaricatio, civil law. The act of speaking evasively. The acting with unfaithfulness and want of probity. The term is applied principally to the act of concealing a crime. In the civil law. Deceitful, crafty, or unfaithfpl conduct; particularly, such as is manifested in concealing a crime. Dig. 47, 15, 6. ” In English law. A collusion between an Informer and a defendant in order to a feigned prosecution. Cowell. Also any secret abuse committed in a public office or private commission; also the willful concealment or misrepresentation, of truth, by giving evasive or equivocating evidence.”