falter

[ fawl-ter ]

/ ˈfɔl tər /

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verb (used without object)

to hesitate or waver in action, purpose, intent, etc.; give way: Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.

to speak hesitatingly or brokenly.

to move unsteadily; stumble.

verb (used with object)

to utter hesitatingly or brokenly: to falter an apology.

noun

the act of faltering; an unsteadiness of gait, voice, action, etc.

a faltering sound.

RELATED WORDS

shyly, carefully

Nearby words

falsity, falstaff, falstaffian, falster, faltboat, falter, faltering, falun, falun gong, falwell, falwell, jerry

Origin of falter

1300–50; Middle English falteren, of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Old Norse faltrast to bother with, be troubled with

Related forms

fal·ter·er, nounfal·ter·ing·ly, adverbnon·fal·ter·ing, adjectivenon·fal·ter·ing·ly, adverb

un·fal·ter·ing, adjectiveun·fal·ter·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for falteringly

"I—I thought all applications had to be made to—your commanding officer," she says at last, falteringly, yet archly.
Starlight Ranch|Charles King
It was from Miss Julia that year by year, falteringly, she learned to hope, learned to hold up her head.
The Broken Gate|Emerson Hough
Falteringly Prudence explained their predicament, and asked him to come and search the house.
Prudence of the Parsonage|Ethel Hueston
"It is so very kind and generous in you," she began, falteringly, thinking of another love and another substitute.
Kathie's Soldiers|Amanda Minnie Douglas

"I am honored, gentlemen," she said falteringly, though her voice gained strength.
The Mistress of Bonaventure|Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for falteringly

falter

/ (ˈfɔːltə) /

verb

(intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver

(intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble

to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer

noun

uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action

a quavering or irregular sound

Derived Formsfalterer, nounfalteringly, adverb

Word Origin for falter

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic faltrast

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 falteringly

falter

mid-14c., of unknown origin, possibly from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse faltrask "be burdened, hesitate, be troubled"), or a frequentative of Middle English falden "to fold," influenced by fault. Related: Faltered; faltering.