hesitation
/ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/ noun
Forms hesitations hæsitation
- noun An act of hesitating
- noun Doubt; vacillation. “She carried out the order without hesitation.”
- noun A faltering in speech; stammering.
Synonyms
cunctation irresolution wavering hesitance hesitancy hold-up shilly-shally vacillation reluctance disinclination indisposition waver falter faltering
Etymology
From Latin haesitātiōnem, accusative singular of haesitātiō (“hesitating, stammering”), from haesitō (“hesitate”). Displaced native Old English ġewand.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of hesitating; suspension of opinion or action; doubt; vacillation.
- noun A faltering in speech; stammering. Swift.
Etymology [L. haesitatio: cf. F. hésitation.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “hesitation”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details