falter

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   speak haltingly

   The speaker faltered when they saw their opponent enter the room.

2. 2
   verb

   be unsure or weak

   Their enthusiasm is faltering

3. 3
   noun

   An unsteadiness.

   Tom, who isn't paying much attention, is suddenly caught by the falter in his voice as he reads the two lines—

4. 4
   verb

   To waver or be unsteady; to weaken or trail off.

   He found his legs falter.

5. 5
   verb

   To stammer; to utter with hesitation, or in a weak and trembling manner.

   And here he faltered forth his last farewell.

6. 6
   verb

   To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; said of the mind or of thought.

   Here indeed the power of distinctly conceiving of space and distance falters.

7. 7
   verb

   To lose faith or vigor; to doubt or abandon (a cause).

   And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter.

8. 8
   verb

   To hesitate in purpose or action.

   Ere her native king / Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms.

Etymology

From Middle English falteren (“to stagger; be unsteady, tremble, quiver; to stammer; be entangled, get caught”), further origin unknown. Probably from a North Germanic source such as Old Norse faltrask (“to hesitate, be puzzled, be encumbered”). May also be a frequentative of fold, although the change from d to t is unusual.