hesitate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

   Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures

2. 2
   verb

   To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.

   He hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment.

3. 3
   verb

   To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

   Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.

4. 4
   verb

   interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

5. 5
   verb

   To stammer; to falter in speaking.

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin haereō Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō ▲ Latin -tō Latin -itō Latin -titō Latin haesitō Latin haesitātusbor. English hesitate 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.