- hesitate
- hesitate: [17] Etymologically, to hesitate is to become ‘stuck’. The word comes from Latin haesitāre, a derivative of haerēre ‘hold fast, stick’ (which gave English adhere). The underlying idea is of being ‘held back’, or in speech of ‘stammering’, and hence of being unable to act or speak promptly or decisively.
=> adhere - hesitate (v.)
- 1620s, from Latin haesitatum, past participle of haesitare (see hesitation). Related: Hesitated; hesitating.