hesitate

hesitate
hes|i|tate [ˈhezıteıt] v
[Date: 1600-1700; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of haesitare 'to stick firmly, hesitate', from haerere 'to stick']
1.)
to pause before saying or doing something because you are nervous or not sure
Kay hesitated for a moment and then said 'yes'.
hesitate about/over
He was still hesitating over whether to leave or not.
2.) don't hesitate to do sth
used to tell someone that it is correct or right for them to do something and they do not have to worry about offending anyone
Don't hesitate to contact me if you need any more information.
>hesitatingly[i] adv

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • Hesitate — «Hesitate» Сингл Stone Sour из альбома Audio Secrecy Выпущен 11 февраля 2011 Формат Digital Download Air Play Записан 2010 Жанр пост гранж …   Википедия

  • Hesitate — Hes i*tate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Hesitated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hesitating}.] [L. haesitatus, p. p. of haesitare, intens. fr. haerere to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast. Cf. {Aghast}, {Gaze}, {Adhere}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To stop or pause …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hesitate — hesitate, waver, vacillate, falter all mean to show irresolution or uncertainty. Hesitate, the general term, usually implies a pause or other sign of indecision before one makes up one s mind what to do, say, or choose {I have for many months… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Hesitate — Hes i*tate, v. t. To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner. [Poetic & R.] [1913 Webster] Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike. Pope. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hesitate — [hez′i tāt΄] vi. hesitated, hesitating [< L haesitatus, pp. of haesitare, to stick fast, hesitate, intens. of haerere, to stick, cleave < IE base * ghais , to be stuck, neglect > prob. Lith gaištù, to neglect] 1. to stop because of… …   English World dictionary

  • hesitate — I verb balk, be dilatory, be dubious, be irresolute, be tentative, be uncertain, cunctari, dally, delay, demur, doubt, dubitare, falter, haerere, have reservations, hold back, oscillate, pause, procrastinate, question, scruple, stop, think twice …   Law dictionary

  • hesitate — (v.) 1620s, from L. haesitatum, pp. of haesitare (see HESITATION (Cf. hesitation)). Related: Hesitated; hesitating …   Etymology dictionary

  • hesitate — [v] wait; be uncertain alternate, balance, balk, be irresolute, be reluctant, be unwilling, blow hot and cold*, dally, debate, defer, delay, demur, dillydally*, dither, doubt, equivocate, falter, flounder, fluctuate, fumble, hang*, hang back,… …   New thesaurus

  • hesitate — ► VERB 1) pause in indecision. 2) be reluctant to do something. ● he who hesitates is lost Cf. ↑he who hesitates is lost DERIVATIVES hesitation noun. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • hesitate — [[t]he̱zɪteɪt[/t]] hesitates, hesitating, hesitated 1) VERB If you hesitate, you do not speak or act for a short time, usually because you are uncertain, embarrassed, or worried about what you are going to say or do. The telephone rang. Catherine …   English dictionary

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