hesitate

Pronunciation: /ˈhɛz.ɪ.teɪt/

The English word “hesitate” has 3 meanings listed here.

verb

To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
To stammer; to falter in speaking.
To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin haesitātus, perfect passive participle of haesitō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive of haereō (“to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast”). Displaced native Old English wandian. Compare French hésiter.

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More English words

hesitance
hesitancy
hesitant
hesitantly
hesitater
hesitating
hesitatingly
hesitatingness

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.