- hesitant
- hesitant 1640s, probably a back formation from HESITANCY (Cf. hesitancy), or else from L. haesitantem. Related: Hesitantly.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
hesitant
Look at other dictionaries:
hésitant — hésitant, ante [ ezitɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1829; les hésitans subst. 1721; de hésiter 1 ♦ (Personnes) Qui hésite, a de la peine à se déterminer. ⇒ 1. incertain, indécis, irrésolu. Être, demeurer hésitant. ⇒ perplexe. Des responsables tout hésitants. ⇒ … Encyclopédie Universelle
Hesitant — Hes i*tant, a. [L. haesitans, p. pr. of haesitare: cf. F. h[ e]sitant. See {Hesitate}.] 1. Not prompt in deciding or acting; hesitating. [1913 Webster] 2. Unready in speech. Baxter. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
hesitant — I adjective averse, balking, balky, cautious, dallying, debating, deliberate, demurring, diffident, doubtful, doubting, equivocal, faltering, fluctuating, groping, halfhearted, hesitating, hesitative, indecisive, irresolute lacking confidence,… … Law dictionary
hésitant — hésitant, ante (é zi tan, tan t ) adj. Qui hésite. C est une femme toujours indécise, toujours hésitante. Qui prononce avec difficulté. Voix hésitante … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
hesitant — reluctant, loath, averse, indisposed, *disinclined Analogous words: *fearful, afraid, apprehensive: diffident, *shy, bashful: recoiling, flinching, blenching, shrinking (see RECOIL) Contrasted words: *eager, avid, keen: resolute, steadfast,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
hesitant — [adj] uncertain, waiting afraid, averse, backward, dawdling, delaying, diffident, disinclined, doubtful, doubting, faltering, half hearted, halting, hanging back, hesitating, indecisive, irresolute, lacking confidence, lazy, loath, reluctant, shy … New thesaurus
hesitant — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ slow to act or speak through indecision or reluctance. DERIVATIVES hesitance noun hesitancy noun hesitantly adverb … English terms dictionary
hesitant — [hez′i tənt] adj. [L haesitans: see HESITANCY] hesitating or undecided; vacillating; doubtful SYN. RELUCTANT hesitantly adv … English World dictionary
hesitant — hes|i|tant [ˈhezıtənt] adj uncertain about what to do or say because you are nervous or unwilling ▪ Gail gave me a hesitant little smile. hesitant about (doing) sth ▪ They seemed hesitant about coming in. hesitant to do sth ▪ She is hesitant to… … Dictionary of contemporary English
hesitant — adj. hesitant about (they are hesitant about signing a contract) * * * [ hezɪt(ə)nt] hesitant about (they are hesitant about signing a contract) … Combinatory dictionary
