hesitate

hesitate
verb (-tated; -tating) Etymology: Latin haesitatus, past participle of haesitare to stick fast, hesitate, frequentative of haerēre to stick Date: 1598 intransitive verb 1. to hold back in doubt or indecision 2. to delay momentarily ; pause 3. stammer transitive verb to hold back from in doubt or uncertainty <
wouldn't hesitate to commit herself
>
hesitater nounhesitatingly adverb Synonyms: hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter mean to show irresolution or uncertainty. hesitate implies a pause before deciding or acting or choosing <
hesitated before answering the question
>
. waver implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes weakness or a retreat <
wavered in his support of the rebels
>
. vacillate implies prolonged hesitation from inability to reach a firm decision <
vacillated until events were out of control
>
. falter implies a wavering or stumbling and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear <
never once faltered during her testimony
>
.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Hesitate — Hes i*tate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Hesitated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hesitating}.] [L. haesitatus, p. p. of haesitare, intens. fr. haerere to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast. Cf. {Aghast}, {Gaze}, {Adhere}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To stop or pause …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hesitate — hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter all mean to show irresolution or uncertainty. Hesitate, the general term, usually implies a pause or other sign of indecision before one makes up one s mind what to do, say, or choose {I have for many months… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Hesitate — Hes i*tate, v. t. To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner. [Poetic & R.] [1913 Webster] Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike. Pope. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hesitate — [hez′i tāt΄] vi. hesitated, hesitating [< L haesitatus, pp. of haesitare, to stick fast, hesitate, intens. of haerere, to stick, cleave < IE base * ghais , to be stuck, neglect > prob. Lith gaištù, to neglect] 1. to stop because of… …   English World dictionary

  • hesitate — I verb balk, be dilatory, be dubious, be irresolute, be tentative, be uncertain, cunctari, dally, delay, demur, doubt, dubitare, falter, haerere, have reservations, hold back, oscillate, pause, procrastinate, question, scruple, stop, think twice …   Law dictionary

  • hesitate — (v.) 1620s, from L. haesitatum, pp. of haesitare (see HESITATION (Cf. hesitation)). Related: Hesitated; hesitating …   Etymology dictionary

  • hesitate — [v] wait; be uncertain alternate, balance, balk, be irresolute, be reluctant, be unwilling, blow hot and cold*, dally, debate, defer, delay, demur, dillydally*, dither, doubt, equivocate, falter, flounder, fluctuate, fumble, hang*, hang back,… …   New thesaurus

  • hesitate — ► VERB 1) pause in indecision. 2) be reluctant to do something. ● he who hesitates is lost Cf. ↑he who hesitates is lost DERIVATIVES hesitation noun. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • hesitate — [[t]he̱zɪteɪt[/t]] hesitates, hesitating, hesitated 1) VERB If you hesitate, you do not speak or act for a short time, usually because you are uncertain, embarrassed, or worried about what you are going to say or do. The telephone rang. Catherine …   English dictionary

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