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dither

[ dith-er ]
/ ˈdɪð ər /
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See synonyms for: dither / dithered / dithering / dithers on Thesaurus.com

noun
a trembling; vibration.
a state of flustered excitement or fear.
verb (used without object)
to act irresolutely; vacillate.
North England. to tremble with excitement or fear.
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Origin of dither

1640–50; variant of didder (late Middle English diddere); cf. dodder1

OTHER WORDS FROM dither

dith·er·er, noundith·er·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for dither

dither
/ (ˈdɪðə) /

verb (intr)
mainly British to be uncertain or indecisive
mainly US to be in an agitated state
to tremble, as with cold
noun
mainly British a state of indecision
a state of agitation

Derived forms of dither

ditherer, noundithery, adjective

Word Origin for dither

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
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