hesitate

hesitate
hesitater, hesitator, n.hesitatingly, adv.
/hez"i tayt'/, v.i., hesitated, hesitating.
1. to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination: She hesitated to take the job.
2. to have scruples or doubts; be unwilling: He hesitated to break the law.
3. to pause: I hesitated before reciting the next line.
4. to falter in speech; stammer: Embarrassment caused the speaker to hesitate.
[1615-25; < L haesitatus, ptp. of haesitare. See HESITANT, -ATE1]
Syn. 1. waver, vacillate, falter. 3. demur, delay.
Ant. 1. decide. 3. hasten.

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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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