stammer Hear it!

stammer Definition

stam·mer (stamər)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to speak or say with involuntary pauses or blocks, often with rapid repetitions of syllables or initial sounds, as temporarily from excitement, embarrassment, etc. or chronically as a result of muscle spasms believed to result from mental conflicts; stutter

Etymology: ME stameren < OE stamerian, akin to Du stameren, freq. formation < IE base *stem-, to stumble in speech, halt > stem, stumble, Ger stumm, dumb

noun

act, instance, or habit of stammering

stammer Related Forms
stam·merer noun stam·mer·ingly adverb
stammer Synonyms

stammer

v.

falter, stop, stumble, hesitate, pause, block one's utterance, stutter, repeat oneself, sputter, halt, hem and haw.

stammer Usage Examples

Object

  • something: She heard him stammer auction seller something about the escape of the mice; she heard him asking her pardon.
  • therapy: I never managed to experience this form of stammering therapy.
  • note: The stammering course notes are $ 43.00 or £ 25.00 and are available as either an electronic e-book or in paper format.
  • apology: I began to stammer an apology, but he suddenly smiled, grabbed my hand and began pumping it.
  • child: Last but not least, most of the work involves the Michael Palin center for stammering children and City University's COMPASS center.
  • excuse: He stammered some excuses, counted out the sum, and saw his hateful visitors depart.

Converse of object

  • overcome: At the age of 22 to improve my quality of life, I decided I had to overcome the stammer.
  • have: I had a stammer for many years, however applying the speech rules I learned on your course have helped me to achieve fluency.

Adjective modifier

  • slight: Despite his slight stammer, each type of software showed the potential to be able to turn his speech into text equally well.
  • bad: Gareth Paul Gates captured the hearts nation with his singing voice, well actually it was mainly because he had a really bad stammer.
  • nervous: Reverend Neville Greystone was a young chap with a slight nervous stammer.
  • terrible: But you try telling someone who has a terrible stammer and has just found speech, not to speak!

Modifying Another Word

  • only: He could only stammer out: " My brother is dead.
  • then: Variation: if you want to focus attention on the pronunciation of a vowel, then stammer when these come up.
  • not: Then, at a second stage, the thought, " I do not stammer " can be introduced.
  • forth: Then you would manage to stammer forth the confession that you were neither a doctor nor a dentist.
  • severely: Aim to build self-esteem so the pupil manages his/her speaking with confidence, even when stammering severely.
  • slightly: At any rate, we knew that he stammered slightly.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • out: He could only stammer out: " My brother is dead.

Used with why or when

  • when: Rhymes and singing may help a child to achieve fluency - many children do not stammer when they sing.

Browse dictionary entries near stammer

  1. stammel
  2. staminody
  3. staminode
  4. staminiferous
  5. stamini-
  6. staminate
  7. staminal
  8. stamina
  9. Stamford
  10. stamen
  1. stamp
  2. Stamp Act
  3. stamp mill
  4. stamp out
  5. stamped
  6. stampede
  7. stamper
  8. stamping ground
  9. stance
  10. stanch