hes´i|tat´er

hes|i|tate «HEHZ uh tayt», verb, -tat|ed, -tat|ing.

–v.i.

1. to hold back; feel doubtful; be undecided; show that one has not yet made up one's mind: »

I hesitated about taking his side until I knew the whole story. But it is clear enough that he has not hesitated to seize the opportunity presented by the settlers' rising and the generals' mutiny (Observer).

2. to feel that perhaps one should not; be unwilling; not wish (to): »

She hesitated to hurt the child's feelings. I hesitated to ask you; you were so busy.

3. to stop for an instant; pause: »

He hesitated before asking the question.

4. to speak with short stops or pauses; stammer. SYNONYM(S): stutter.

–v.t.

to express with indecision or unwillingness: »

Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike (Alexander Pope).

╂[< Latin haesitāre (with English -ate¹) < haerēre stick fast]

–hes´i|tat´er,

–hes´i|ta´tor, noun.

Synonym Study intransitive verb. 1 Hesitate, falter, waver mean to fail to act promptly and resolutely. Hesitate emphasizes holding back because of doubt or indecision: »

I hesitated about taking the new job.

Falter suggests losing courage and hesitating or giving way after starting to act: »

He went to apologize, but faltered at the door.

Waver suggests not holding firmly to a decision or course of action: »

I said I would help but wavered when I saw how much there was to do.