hesitate

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Latin haereō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō ▲ Latin -tō Latin -itō Latin -titō Latin haesitō Latin haesitātusbor. English hesitate Borrowed from Latin haesitātus, perfect passive participle of haesitō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive of haereō (“to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast”). Displaced native Old English wandian. Compare French hésiter.

1. To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.

   “He hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment.”

   “September 1, 1742, Alexander Pope, letter to Racine I shall not hesitate to declare myself very cordially, in regard to some particulars about which you have desired an answer.”

2. To stammer; to falter in speaking.
3. To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

   “Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.”