Hesitate Definition
hĕzĭ-tāt
hesitated, hesitates, hesitating
verb
hesitated, hesitates, hesitating
To stop because of indecision; pause or delay in acting, choosing, or deciding because of feeling unsure; waver.
Webster's New World
To pause; stop momentarily.
Webster's New World
To be slow to act, speak, or decide.
American Heritage
To be reluctant; not be sure that one should.
Hesitating to ask.
Webster's New World
(intransitive) To stammer; to falter in speaking.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Origin of Hesitate
-
From Latin haesitatus, past participle of haesitare, intensive of haerere (“to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast”). Compare aghast, gaze, adhere.
From Wiktionary
Latin haesitāre haesitāt- to hesitate frequentative of haerēre to hold fast
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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