The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Prevarication \Pre*var`i*ca"tion\, n. [L. praevaricatio: cf. F.
   pr['e]varication.]
   1. The act of prevaricating, shuffling, or quibbling, to
      evade the truth or the disclosure of truth; a deviation
      from the truth and fair dealing.
      [1913 Webster]

            The august tribunal of the skies, where no
            prevarication shall avail.            --Cowper.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Law)
      (a) (Roman Law) The collusion of an informer with the
          defendant, for the purpose of making a sham
          prosecution.
      (b) (Common Law) A false or deceitful seeming to undertake
          a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
          --Cowell.
          [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

prevarication
    n 1: a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth [syn:
         lie, prevarication]
    2: intentionally vague or ambiguous [syn: equivocation,
       prevarication, evasiveness]
    3: the deliberate act of deviating from the truth [syn: lying,
       prevarication, fabrication]