tergiversation

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The Word of the Day for November 3 is: 

tergiversation   \ter-jiv-er-SAY-shun\   noun
    *1 : evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut 
statement : equivocation 
     2 : desertion of a cause, position, party, or faith

Example sentence:
     The tergiversation of Ken's speech left his listeners 
confused about where he really stood on the issue.

Did you know?
     The Latin verb "tergiversari" means "to show reluctance," 
and it comes from the combination of "tergum," meaning "back," 
and "versare," meaning "to turn." "Tergiversari" gave English 
the noun "tergiversation" and the verb "tergiversate" ("to 
engage in tergiversation"). "Tergiversation" is the slightly 
older term, having been around since at least 1570; the first 
known use of "tergiversate" dates from 1590. There's also the 
much rarer adjective "tergiversant" ("tending to evade"), as 
well as the noun "tergiversator" ("one that tergiversates").

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.