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falter

 - 3 dictionary results

fal⋅ter

  [fawl-ter]
–verb (used without object)
1. to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way: Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.
2. to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.
3. to move unsteadily; stumble.
–verb (used with object)
4. to utter hesitatingly or brokenly: to falter an apology.
–noun
5. the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.
6. a faltering sound.
Use falter in a Sentence
Origin:
1300–50; ME falteren, of obscure orig.; perh. akin to ON faltrast to bother with, be troubled with

Related forms:
fal⋅ter⋅er, noun
fal⋅ter⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To falter
fal·ter   (fôl'tər)   
intr.v.   fal·tered, fal·ter·ing, fal·ters

  1. To be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence; waver. See Synonyms at hesitate.

  2. To speak hesitatingly; stammer.

    1. To move ineptly or haltingly; stumble.

    2. To operate or perform unsteadily or with a loss of effectiveness: The automobile engine faltered.

n.  

  1. Unsteadiness in speech or action.

  2. A faltering sound.


[Middle English falteren, to stagger, possibly from Old Norse faltrask, to be puzzled, hesitate.]
fal'ter·er n., fal'ter·ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

falter 
c.1340, possibly from a Scand. source, or a frequentative of M.E. falden "to fold," infl. by fault.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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