hesitate
//ˈhɛz.ɪ.teɪt//
Forms
- present (v1)
- hesitate
- past (v2)
- hesitated
- past participle (v3)
- hesitated
- present participle
- hesitating
- 3rd person singular
- hesitates
Definitions
1.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.
2.To stammer; to falter in speaking.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4527
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
Etymology tree
Latin haereō
Proto-Indo-European *-tós
Proto-Italic *-tos
Latin -tus
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.
Proto-Italic *-ājō
Proto-Italic *-āō
Latin -ō
Latin -tō
▲
Latin -tō