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hesitate

 [hez-i-teyt]   Example Sentences Origin

hes·i·tate

   [hez-i-teyt]
verb (used without object), -tat·ed, -tat·ing.
1.
to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination: She hesitated to take the job.
2.
to have scruples or doubts; be unwilling: He hesitated to break the law.
3.
to pause: I hesitated before reciting the next line.
4.
to falter in speech; stammer: Embarrassment caused the speaker to hesitate.
Origin:
1615–25; < Latin haesitātus, past participle of haesitāre. See hesitant, -ate1

Related forms
hes·i·tat·er, hes·i·ta·tor, noun
hes·i·tat·ing·ly, adverb
pre·hes·i·tate, verb (used without object), -tat·ed, -tat·ing.

Synonyms
1. waver, vacillate, falter. 3. demur, delay.

Antonyms
1. decide. 3. hasten.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Hesitate is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
to run away hurriedly; flee.
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Example Sentences
  • Only the innocent close their eyes in movies, turn from danger, hesitate in fright.
  • He did not hesitate to express his deprecating views.
  • Some countries take breaking the law seriously and do not hesitate to prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
hesitate (ˈhɛzɪˌteɪt)
 
—vb
1.  to hold back or be slow in acting; be uncertain
2.  to be unwilling or reluctant (to do something)
3.  to stammer or pause in speaking
 
[C17: from Latin haesitāre, from haerēre to cling to]
 
'hesitater
 
—n
 
'hesitator
 
—n
 
'hesitatingly
 
—adv
 
hesi'tation
 
—n
 
'hesitative
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

hesitate
1620s, from L. haesitatum, pp. of haesitare (see hesitation).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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