Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- the act of hesitating; a delay due to uncertainty of mind or fear: His hesitation cost him the championship.
- a state of doubt or uncertainty.
- a halting or faltering in speech.
c.1400, from Old French hesitacion or directly from Latin haesitationem (nominative haesitatio) “a hesitation, stammering,” figuratively “irresolution, uncertainty,” from haesitare “stick fast, remain fixed; stammer in speech,” figuratively “hesitate, be irresolute, be at a loss, be undecided,” frequentative of haerere “stick, cling,” from PIE *ghais-e (cf. Lithuanian gaistu “to delay, tarry”), from root *ghais- “to adhere; hesitate.”