“PREVARICATE” CAN MEAN “PROCRASTINATE.”

“PREVARICATE” CAN MEAN “PROCRASTINATE.” I have come to accept the theory that usage should determine grammar and the meaning of words. However, I still tend to grit my teeth at what seems to be incorrect usage before reminding myself that correctness follows usage. After a struggle, and recognizing the frequency of the usage, I am almost comfortable with one of the meanings of “reticent” being “reluctant.” Similarly, I have encountered several times the usage of “to prevaricate” to mean “to procrastinate.” I posted here that I considered the usage of the grammatical construction “like he” in the New York Review of Books to be an official blessing of that usage. Now, in the February 12, 2011 issue, the Economist has used “to prevaricate” to mean “to procrastinate.” I take that as an official blessing. (The article is here, with the phrase “…managed to prevaricate for almost two years….”)