Etymologically
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hésiter

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 14:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /e.zi.te/[1]

Forms

hésiter[1] Hecyter (1406), ecytés (15th century, Passion d'Autun); hésiter from about 1535.[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin haesitō (“to be stuck, at a loss; to stammer; to hesitate”), a frequentative of haereō (“to stick, cling”).[4][2][5][3][6][7] The Latin verb has been compared with Lithuanian gaištù (“to hesitate, linger”).[2] The noun hésitation was borrowed earlier, at the end of the 13th century.[2][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is recorded in 1406 as hecyter, for being in a state of uncertainty that holds back action; the Passion d'Autun (15th century) has puisque de mors vous ecytés “since you hesitate before death”.[2][8][4]

Semantic evolution

Georges de Selve's Plutarch (about 1535) has the modern spelling.[4][3] Monet (1636) and Cotgrave (1611) record hesitating in speech, stammering.[4][3][2] The constructions multiplied in classical French: hésiter entre (1653, Vaugelas), hésiter sur (1670, Molière), hésiter à with an infinitive (1690, Furetière), hésiter de (late 17th century, now out of use), and in the 19th century hésiter si.[2][3] The participle hésitant became an adjective in 1829.[2]

Timeline

  • 1406 – Hecyter.[2]
  • c. 1535 – Hésiter, Georges de Selve.[4]
  • 1611 – “To stammer”, Cotgrave.[4]
  • 1653 – Hésiter entre, Vaugelas.[3]
  • 1690 – Hésiter à, Furetière.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To hesitate, waver, be undecided: il n'hésita pas une seconde, répondre sans hésiter.[9][1]
  2. Hésiter entre, sur: to be torn between, unsure about: hésiter sur l'orthographe d'un mot.[9][2]
  3. Hésiter à: to be reluctant to: n'hésitez pas à m'appeler.[2][3]
  4. To falter, pause in speaking or moving.[4][3]

Word family

  • hésitant
  • hésitation

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 4, 375a
  8. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert