falter
Cross references: 1. hesitate 1. fal.ter \'fo.l-t*r\ \-t(*-)rin\ \-t*r-*r\ \-t(*-)rin-le-\ vb or fal.ter.ing [ME falteren] 1a: to walk unsteadily : STUMBLE 1b: to give way : TOTTER 1c: to move waveringly or hestitatingly 2: to speak brokenly or weakly : STAMMER 3: to hesitate in purpose or action : WAVER : to utter hesitatingly or brokenly - fal.ter.er n 2. falter n : an act or instance of faltering