dither
[dihth -er]
- a trembling; vibration.
- a state of flustered excitement or fear.
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- to act irresolutely; vacillate.
- North England. to tremble with excitement or fear.
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Origin of dither
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
undetermined, unclear, uncertain, hesitant, doubtful, uncommitted, wavering, unsure, vague, ambivalent, throb, pulsate, shudder, shiver, convulse, tremble, disturb, rattle, swing, upsetExamples from the Web for dithering
Contemporary Examples
Despite a dithering Congress and a disdainful American public, the diplomatic doors opened.
Such verbiage and dithering in the face of market mayhem helped Europe get into its mess in the first place.
Fourth, Gordon Brown is a dour, dithering, dry, dislikeable loser.
Like Obama he faced accusations of dithering and cowardice, particularly from his great rival Theodore Roosevelt.
The word "dithering" is beginning to be heard on this side of the Atlantic, too.
Historical Examples
"I'm all dithering," panted Hattie, as Winnie pushed her forward to try first.
For the Sake of the SchoolAngela Brazil
And the white-livered accomplice is dithering with funk in there.
Ambrotox and Limping DickOliver Fleming
A man will no' keep on dithering for what he kens he canna' get.
The Dop DoctorClotilde Inez Mary Graves
His voice caught in a tight knot of strangulation; he was dithering and palsied.
Just Around the CornerFannie Hurst
Presently he came running out of the scullery, with the soapy water dripping from him, dithering with cold.
Sons and LoversDavid Herbert Lawrence
dither
- mainly British to be uncertain or indecisive
- mainly US to be in an agitated state
- to tremble, as with cold
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- mainly British a state of indecision
- a state of agitation
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Word Origin
C17: variant of C14 (northern English dialect) didder, of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for dithering
dither
v.
1640s, "to quake, tremble," phonetic variant of Middle English didderen (late 14c.), of uncertain origin. The sense of "vacillate, be anxious" is from 1819. Related: Dithered; dithering.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper