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   hesitate

   /ˈhɛzɪteɪt/

   verb

   • 1. pause in indecision before saying or doing something: "she hesitated, unsure of what to say" Similar pausedelayhang backwaitshilly-shallyditherstalltemporizebe in two mindsbe in a quandarybe in a dilemmabe on the horns of a dilemmabe uncertainbe hesitantbe unsurebe doubtfulbe indecisiveequivocatevacillateoscillatewaverhave second thoughtshaverhum and hawswitherinformal:dilly-dallyblow hot and coldOpposite be resolutebe certain
   • ▪ be reluctant to do something: "he hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive" Similar be reluctantbe unwillingbe disinclinedscruplehave misgivings abouthave qualms aboutbe ambivalent aboutfeel uneasy aboutshrink fromdemur fromhang back fromthink twice aboutbe diffident aboutbalk atboggle atOpposite be willing

   Word Origin early 17th century: from Latin haesitat- ‘stuck fast, left undecided’, from the verb haesitare, from haerere ‘stick, stay’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. hesitater noun
   • 2. hesitative adjective

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • H

     4

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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