hesitation - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

hes·i·ta·tion

Audio Help [hez-i-tey-shuh

n] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	the act of hesitating; a delay due to uncertainty of mind or fear: His hesitation cost him the championship.

2.	a state of doubt or uncertainty.

3.	a halting or faltering in speech.

[Origin: 1615–25; < L haesitātiōn- (s. of haesitātiō). See hesitate, -ion

]

—Synonyms 2. hesitancy, indecision, irresolution, vacillation. 3. stammer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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hesitation

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

hes·i·ta·tion Audio Help (hěz'ĭ-tā'shən) Pronunciation Key
n.

The act or an instance of hesitating.
The state of being hesitant.
A pause or faltering in speech.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
hesitation

1622, from L. hæsitationem (nom. hæsitatio) "irresolution, uncertainty," from hæsitare "stick fast, stammer in speech, be undecided," freq. of hærere "stick, cling," from PIE *ghais-eyo (cf. Lith. gaistu "to delay, tarry"). Hesitate is attested from 1623, from L. hæsitatum, pp. of hæsitare.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

hesitation
noun
1.	indecision in speech or action
2.	a certain degree of unwillingness; "a reluctance to commit himself"; "his hesitancy revealed his basic indisposition"; "after some hesitation he agreed" [syn: reluctance]
3.	the act of pausing uncertainly; "there was a hesitation in his speech"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ˌhesiˈtation1 noun

an act of hesitating

Arabic:	عَمَلِيَّة التردُّد
Chinese (Simplified):	踌躇
Chinese (Traditional):	躊躇
Czech:	váhání
Danish:	tøven
Dutch:	aarzeling
Estonian:	kõhklus
Finnish:	epäröinti
French:	hésitation
German:	das Zögern
Greek:	δισταγμός
Hungarian:	tétovázás
Icelandic:	hik
Indonesian:	keraguan
Italian:	esitazione

Japanese:	ためらい
Korean:	주저
Latvian:	vilcināšanās
Lithuanian:	dvejojimas
Norwegian:	nøling, vakling
Polish:	wahanie
Portuguese (Brazil):	hesitação
Portuguese (Portugal):	hesitação
Romanian:	ezitare
Russian:	сомнение
Slovak:	váhanie
Slovenian:	oklevanje
Spanish:	indecisión, vacilación
Swedish:	tvekan
Turkish:	duraksama, tereddüt

ˌhesiˈtation2 noun

unwillingness or uncertainty

Arabic:	عدم استِعْداد أو تأكُّد، تَرَدُّد
Chinese (Simplified):	犹豫
Chinese (Traditional):	猶豫, 不情愿
Czech:	pochybnost
Danish:	betænkelighed
Dutch:	aarzeling
Estonian:	ebakindlus
Finnish:	epävarmuus
French:	hésitation
German:	das Zögern
Greek:	δισταγμός, αβεβαιότητα, απροθυμία
Hungarian:	habozás
Icelandic:	hik, vafi
Indonesian:	ketidakpastian
Italian:	esitazione

Japanese:	ためらい
Korean:	싫은 마음
Latvian:	svārstīšanās
Lithuanian:	neryžtingumas
Norwegian:	usikkerhet, uvillighet
Polish:	niepewność
Portuguese (Brazil):	hesitação
Portuguese (Portugal):	hesitação
Romanian:	ezitare
Russian:	нерешительность
Slovak:	zdráhanie, rozpaky
Slovenian:	negotovost
Spanish:	vacilación, duda
Swedish:	tveksamhet, villrådighet
Turkish:	çekinme, çekingenlik, kararsızlık, bocalama