hesitate English · revision 39655

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1623, H. Cockeram, The English Dictionarie|origins=la haereō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈhɛz.ɪ.teɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|haesitātus]], the past participle of [[m|la|haesitō|t=to stick fast, stammer, be undecided]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Dictionary.com 2016) a frequentative of [[m|la|haereō|t=to stick, cling, hold fast]],^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(Skeat 1911) the verb behind [[adhere]].^(Ayto 2005)^(Hoad 1986) The OED compares [[m|fr|hésiter]],^(OED 2026) and Barnhart thinks the French verb may have had some influence, or that the English verb may be a back-formation from [[hesitation]].^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster, Skeat and Barnhart compare [[lt|gaišti|t=to loiter, delay]],^(MWU 2024)^(Skeat 1911)^(Barnhart 1988) and Barnhart gives the root as [[ine-pro|*ghais-]].^(Barnhart 1988) Ayto explains the underlying idea as being held back or "stuck", or in speech stammering, and so unable to act or speak promptly.^(Ayto 2005)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To hold back in doubt or indecision; to find it hard to decide: 1623, in Henry Cockeram's ''English Dictionarie''.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Merriam-Webster gives 1598 for this sense,^(MWU 2024) Barnhart finds the participle ''hesitating'', slow to act, probably before 1622,^(Barnhart 1988) and Etymonline dates the verb to the 1620s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin verb already combined the ideas of sticking fast, stammering and being undecided,^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) and English took over all three senses.^(OED 2026) The sense "to stammer or falter in speech" is recorded from 1706, in Phillips's ''New World of Words'',^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) and a transitive use, to say something hesitantly, from 1734, in Pope's ''Epistle to Arbuthnot'':^(OED 2026) "Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike".^(Johnson 1755) Johnson (1755) defined the verb as to be doubtful, to delay, to pause, to make difficulty.^(Johnson 1755) The construction with an infinitive, as in ''hesitate to'', is recorded from 1755.^(OED 2026) In the 20th century the verb was used for a step in dancing (1914) and for moving in a faltering way (1908, in H. G. Wells).^(OED 2026)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1598 – Merriam-Webster's date for the sense of holding back in doubt.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1623 – to hold back in doubt or indecision.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1706 – to stammer or falter in speech.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1734 – transitive, to say with hesitation.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1755 – with an infinitive, ''hesitate to''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1908 – to move in a faltering way.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1914 – a step in dancing.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To pause or hold back because of doubt or [[indecision]]; to be slow to act or decide: ''She hesitated at the door before knocking.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # To be unwilling or [[reluctant]] to do something, often from [[scruple]]: ''I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.''^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To [[falter]] or pause in speaking; to [[stammer]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # To say something in a hesitant way.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hesitater]]

+ * [[hesitatingly]]

+ * [[hesitant]]

+ * [[hesitation]]

+ * [[hesitative]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[adhere]]

+ * [[cohere]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}