hesitater

Variant of hesitate

intransitive verb hesitated, hesitating

  1. to stop because of indecision; pause or delay in acting, choosing, or deciding because of feeling unsure; waver
  2. to pause; stop momentarily
  3. to be reluctant; not be sure that one should: hesitating to ask
  4. to pause continually in speaking; stammer

Origin: < 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

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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