Webster's English Dictionary

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hesitate

hes.i.tate \'hez-*-.ta-t\ \-.ta-t-in-le-\ vi [L haesitatus, pp. of 
   haesitare to stick fast, hesitate, fr. hae]sus, pp. of haere-re to stick; 
   akin to Lith gaishachek>ti to loiter 1: to hold back in doubt or indecision 
    2: to delay momentarily : PAUSE  3: STAMMER how irresolution or 
   uncertainty. HESITATE implies a pause before deciding or acting or 
   choosing; WAVER implies hesitation after seeming to decide and so connotes 
   weakness or a retreat; VACILLATE implies prolonged hesitation from 
   inability to reach a firm decision; FALTER implies a wavering or stumbling 
   and often connotes nervousness, lack of courage, or outright fear - 
   hes.i.tat.er n SYN syn HESITATE, WAVER, VACILLATE, FALTER mean to s