Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

hesitatingly

[hez-i-teyt]

Origin

verb (used without object), -tat·ed, -tat·ing.

to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination: She hesitated to take the job.

to have scruples or doubts; be unwilling: He hesitated to break the law.

to pause: I hesitated before reciting the next line.

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.
Cite This Source

Link To hesitatingly

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Hesitatingly is always a great word to know.

So is bezoar. Does it mean:

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

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
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

hesitate

1620s, from L. haesitatum, pp. of haesitare (see hesitation).

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for hesitatingly?
How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

Related Words

falter

Quote Of The Day

"I think it's one of the scars in our culture that we have too high an opinion of ourselves. We align ourselves with the angels instead of the higher primates."

-Angela Carter

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help