Hesitate
Verb
Etymology: from Latin hæsitare (= to be stuck, to stick fast, hesitate) intensive from hærere (= to hesitate, stick fast). It is etymologically and semantically identical to French hésiter, to Spanish hesitar (rarely used), and to Italian esitare.
Indicative past, past participle: hesitated
Present participle: hesitating.
Third-person singular simple present: she/he hesitates
Intransitively:
First definition: to be in a state of indecision; to manifest, or behave with, indecision; to pause irresolutely
Synonyms: to doubt; dubitate
Antonym: to be resolute, resolve
It is the celebrated Montez, the most expert bull-killer in Spain, and he is greeted with thundering plaudits by the spectators. He advances towards the bull, who eyes him warily, as if he were aware that a new and more dangerous antagonist had taken the field against him. But the animal hesitates only a moment. Gathering all his strength, he rushes upon the red flag which the matador holds out on his left side.
John Dix (A winter in Madeira)
When I said these words, I of course expected some […] sally from Bedloe in reply, but, to my astonishment, he hesitated, trembled, became fearfully pallid, and remained silent.
Edgar Allan Poe
“You never ask after the picture now, and it is nearly finished; come into the studio a moment and look at it. I should like to have your opinion;” and as she hesitated, he continued a little impatiently, “You need not fear I shall detain you, and the children will like to see it.”
Rose Carey (Only the governess)
"Don't hesitate, father, but go," cried Luke; and the old man hurried off.
Forester Fitz-David (Alice Littleton)
In his haste some small boxes were thrown down, the noise occasioned by which I heard, as will be recollected. He had made considerable progress on his return when the fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate. He retraced his steps immediately, and, clambering up the stowage a second time, called out my name, loudly as before, having watched for a lull.
Edgar Allan Poe (The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym)
***Particularly, to manifest indecision in speaking; stammer; falter:
This being a sort of defiance, one and another gentleman advanced to answer it. He that was first began to speak; but Mr. Tyrrel, by the expression of his countenance and a peremptory tone, by well-timed interruptions and pertinent insinuations, caused him first to hesitate, and then to be silent.
William Godwin (The adventures of Caleb…)
***With the preposition in, followed either by a noun or a gerund, designative of the object of one’s indecision:
There has been but one consideration which caused me to hesitate a moment in delivering the message to you, and which would effectually have prevented me, if our intimacy had not hitherto been so close.
Azel Roe (A long look ahead)
This change in his daughter was not unmarked by the Consul, who, after some reflection, could not hesitate in considering it as the result of the departure of Mr. Ferrers.
Benjamin Disraeli (Sketches)
Mrs. Harris paused, --hesitated in her speech, and at length stammered out.
Isabella Spence (How to be rid of a wife)
Ranulph hesitated for a moment in his answer, during which space he regarded Eleanor with the deepest anxiety.
William Ainsworth (Rookwood)
***With the preposition at, followed either by a noun or a gerund, designative of the object of one’s indecision:
I always called at the big houses to deliver the letters, and receive the postage. Nobody hesitates at paying for a letter -- especially for a double one -- people are such fools- and it was no trouble to get round a corner before there was time to open the epistles.
Edgar Allan Poe
Those who would hesitate at such a wager, have either never been boys themselves, or have forgotten the boyish nature.
Edgar Allan Poe
***With the preposition about, followed either by a noun or a gerund, designative of the object of one’s indecision:
"You remember me now, sir, I dare say! -Jane Darley, sir!" said she; hesitating about taking the offered chair, and fumbling with her cloak, as though her hands were trying to knead her into courage.
Grace Frances (The banker’s wife)
Gruel is one of the best possible things for a beaten out horse. Stir gradually in a gallon of water, a pint or a quart of oat-meal, or half flour and half corn-meal, according as the horse likes is thick or thin, and fill up the pail with cold water. If the horse hesitates about drinking it, give him first a mouthful of water.
Rudolph Gleason (Gleason’s horse book)
I was much surprised that Dr. Foam, who appeared so well acquainted with the lady, should hesitate about her name.
William Ainsworth (Mervin Clitheroe)
The man did not hesitate a moment about the direction he should take.
Wilkie Collins (The Woman in White)
***With the preposition between, used to signify two or more objects of consideration (cf. French hésiter entre; Italian esitare fra):
[…] while we were hesitating between the tasks of pulling off our shoes and stockings, and walking a mile higher up to the bridge […]
Richard Ayton (A voyage round Great Britain)
I despair of conveying to the reader any distinct conception of the marvels which my friend did actually accomplish. I wish to describe, but am disheartened by the difficulty of description, and hesitate between detail and generality.
Edgar Allan Poe
***With the preposition on, or upon, followed either by a noun or a gerund, designative of the object of one’s indecision:
Arthur Macon, when told that Frederic would enter the navy, hesitated as little on accompanying him as he would have done in determining on a day’s fishing party or an excursion into the country.
Jane Mcintosh (Conquest and self-conquest)
While we were hesitating on this proposition […] we heard a noise below.
Martha Sherwood (The lady of the manor)
I may as well here observe, that amongst these articles were two books, and, from the positive commands of my companion, not to touch the book in the cabin, I looked upon them with a degree of awe, and hesitated upon taking them in my hand; but, at last, I put them out to dry on the rocks, with the rest of the contents of the chest.
Captain Marryat (The Little Savage)
The boy hesitated a little upon entering, but the Colonel called him in.
Ethel M. Dell (The Lamp in the Desert)
***With the preposition for, followed by a noun, designative of what is to be decided:
[“] Have you since your return to England visited that country where we formerly knew one another? Tell me, do you know my wretched story? Tell me that, my friend.”
Booth hesitated for an answer; indeed, he had heard some imperfect stories, not much to her advantage.
Henry Fielding (Amelia)
I have seen her in conversation with many […] men of the various professions of this country, and her colloquial powers were such that she never for a moment hesitated for a word or an idea on any topic that was started.
Southern Literary Messenger, vol. 5
["] I don’t believe you would be a safe confidant; you are too–too–" and here he hesitated for a word –"too soft-hearted"
Rose Carey (Only the governess)
***With the preposition over, followed by a gerund, designative of what is to be decided:
Helen May studied his face while he studied the distant plain. She thought he acted as though he didn't care much whether she kept the horse or not, and for that reason, and because his explanation had sounded like truth, she hesitated over refusing the offer, though she felt that she ought to refuse.
B. M Bower (Starr, of the Desert)
He hesitated over waiting for Gottlieb's arrival, to tell him of the discovery, but determined to keep silence till he should have determined whether it was an accident.
Sinclair Lewis (Arrowsmith)
[…] while he hesitated over the question he wished to ask, Tisdale said mellowly, no doubt to bridge the awkward pause: […]
Ada Anderson (The Rim of the Desert)
The coming ashore of the English had evidently disconcerted the Indians and they hesitated over what should be their next move.
Edward Stratemeyer (Marching on Niagara)
If she had not been thus compelled to write steadily and concisely on, she might have hesitated over many a word, and been puzzled to choose between many an expression, in the awkwardness of being the first to resume the intercourse of which the concluding event had been so unpleasant to both sides.
Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South)
Stella was conscious of a momentary surprise. There was something in the tone rather than the words that puzzled her. She hesitated over her reply.
Ethel M. Dell (The Lamp in the Desert)
***With the prepositional construction as to, before a noun, or a dependent clause introduced by an interrogative adverb, designative of the object of one’s indecision:
She poured out a glass, and the Rector drew it to him, and sat gazing at the clear, amber liquid, hesitating as to how he should begin.
Forester Fitz-David (Alice Littleton)
There are, I suppose, few persons who have not hesitated as to the best pronunciation of foreign names of persons and places.
New Monthly Magazine, vol. 2
It was easy to perceive that the opinion of the rest coincided with that of their leader; notwithstanding which a few of them hesitated as to the conduct to be pursued.
William Godwin (The adventures of Caleb…)
[…] while I yet hesitate as to where I shall walk, I see […] a wreath of white smoke.
Charles Dickens (Household Words, vol. 5)
***This prepositional construction seems to be omitted when its object is an infinitive, a gerund, or a dependent clause introduced either by an interrogative adverb, an interrogative pronoun, or the conjunction whether (cf. French hésiter si…):
They were secured on either bank to heavy buttresses of stone. But as they were originally designed for nothing heavier than the foot-passenger and the llama, and, as they had something exceedingly fragile in their appearance, the Spaniards hesitated to venture on them with their horses.
William Prescott (The History of the Conquest of Peru)
[Dupin] seemed, too, to take an eager delight in its exercise - if not exactly in its display - and did not hesitate to confess the pleasure thus derived.
Edgar Allan Poe
It was not until she had proceeded some distance up the Bowery, that she noticed even that the carriage had taken that route. She thought it could not possibly be the nearest; but still she hesitated to speak to the driver, especially as she would be obliged to put her head out of the window to do so, there being no other means of communication with him.
Azel Roe (A long look ahead)
Don Birbone paused for a moment and placed his finger on his lip, as if reflecting on what he ought to do, and Corneli hesitated awaiting his decision.
John Galt (The earthquake)
Admiral Watson, apprehensive he might be reflected on, should he neglected such an opportunity of distressing the common enemy, hesitated signing.
Luke Scrafton (Indostan)
[…] at last he was seen to attain the highest point of the island, where he stood for a few moments, hesitating where to turn or to direct his researches.
Walter Scott (Moredun)
[The locusts] made their appearance at first in a large dense cloud, hovering high in the air, as if hesitating where to descend.
[…] while they were arguing and hesitating where they would make their first attack, the whalers were actively employed in getting their great guns out of the hold, and in preparing their vessels for defence.
Augustus Earle (A narrative…)
[The woman] paused, as if she hesitated how to explain something.
Eliot Warburton (Darien)
With little or no ceremony, Miss Matson, the next morning, came into her room, and begged leave to enquire when their small account could be settled. And, while Ellis hesitated how to answer, added, that the reason of her desiring a reply as quickly as possible, was an interview that she had just had with the other creditors, the preceding evening.
Fanny Burney (The Wanderer)
Margaret, who was not prepared to expect this turn in her father’s sentiments, hesitated how to continue her theme.
The European Magazine, vol. 79-80
Seymour, […] longed to talk of thoughts and feelings which had rested in his heart unchanged since last he saw her, but hesitated how to begin, lest the very first word should alarm her.
George Payne (Arabella Stuart)
He was a little at a loss, having two wives living in separate tents, at some distance from each other, and he hesitated which to visit.
John Stephens (Incidents of travel in Egypt…)
I was […] hesitating which of the roads that diverged from the green to pursue, when there issued form the school-porch the tall pensive figure of the young schoolmaster […]
Fraser’s Magazine, vol. 5
Very few people were abroad. Amalia hesitated whom to address, until she saw a one-armed porter in the act of closing the great entrance-gate of a court of houses.
The Eclectic Magazine, vol. 51
[…] the troops were hesitating whom to nominate as emperor.
Robert Browne (A history of Rome…)
I no longer hesitated what to do. I resolved to lash myself securely to the water cask upon which I now held, to cut it loose from the counter, and to throw myself with it into the water.
Edgar Allan Poe
While he hesitated whether it would be better to send back one of his followers, […] he heard the blast of a horn, and looking in the direction from which the sound came, beheld a horseman riding very fast towards them.
Walter Scott (Waverley novels, vol. 31)
Sailing to the north, with his only son for his companion, he coasted the shores of Greeland, and hesitated whether to attempt the circumnavigation of that country, or the passage across the pole.
George Bancroft (History of the colonization…)
In the middle of the piece the door half-opened, and Edith saw Captain Lennox hesitating whether to come in.
Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South)
Second definition: to manifest indecision in one’s locomotion.
Without a prepositional complement, the next three quotations may also be placed under the first definition
Once more he neared the farm, and once more he hesitated and turned off.
Forester Fitz-David (Alice Littleton)
Jane rose, retreated a few steps, hesitated, advanced again, paused, and observing that the solicitor's look was not repulsive, she ventured timidly to say- […]
Felix Hamel – Lionel Hexham (Harry Roughton)
Leonie was walking across the space, neither hastening nor hesitating, towards the tiger which crouched, growling softly, with its tail sweeping the ground.
Joan Conquest (Leonie of the Jungle)
***With a prepositional complement:
He became anxious to see how Kurt was affected by these things. Also he perceived he was hungry. He hesitated towards the door of the cabin and peeped out into the passage.
Herbert Wells (The War in the Air)
He took as long as he could in unpacking things which needed no unpacking, and hesitated down the stairs.
Sinclair Lewis (Arrowsmith)
Transitively:
Definition: to speak (a word, statement, etc.) hesitatingly
"What shall we do, Poll?" hesitated Edgeworth Bess.
William Ainsworth (Jack Sheppard)
Other words derived from hesitate: hesitater, hesitating, hesitatingly, hesitatingness, hesitation, hesitative, hesitatively, hesitatory, hesitantly, hesitant, hesitancy, hesitance
Other words derived from Latin hærere: cohere, coherence, coherency, coherent, coherently, coherer, cohering, cohesion, cohesive, cohesively, cohesiveness, inhere, inherence, inherency, inherent, inherentness, inherently, inhering, inhesion, adhere, adherence, adherency, adherend, adherent, adhering, adhesion, adhesive, adhesively, adhesiveness, incoherent, incoherence, incoherency, incoherently, incohering, incohesion, incohesive, inadherent, inadhesion, inadhesive, unadhesive, unadherent
