hesitant
[hez-i-tuh nt]
- hesitating; undecided, doubtful, or disinclined.
- lacking readiness of speech.
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Origin of hesitant
1640–50; < Latin haesitant- (stem of haesitāns), present participle of haesitāre to falter, hesitate, equivalent to haes(us), past participle of haerēre to stick, hold fast + -it- frequentative suffix + -ant- -ant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hesitantly
Contemporary Examples
According to police, she “hesitantly” complied with orders and told police that she had done nothing wrong.
“There were times when I was writing the book when I did get angry at the president,” she says hesitantly.
I asked him to clarify, and he hesitantly said, “gay people.”
“I am happy to write more articles like that,” he said hesitantly.
Historical Examples
Hesitantly, he reached out and touched a button on the intercom.
A Matter of MagnitudeAl Sevcik
"Yes," said he, hesitantly, with a backward glance into the room.
When Life Was YoungC. A. Stephens
"I believe we did, on several occasions," Egavine said hesitantly.
The Star HyacinthsJames H. Schmitz
Trigger said hesitantly, "Those people who were chasing this car—"
LegacyJames H Schmitz
Then hesitantly continuing: "If you could spare an hour or two this afternoon——?"
StubbleGeorge Looms
hesitant
- wavering, hesitating, or irresolute
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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 hesitantly
hesitant
adj.
1640s, probably a back-formation from hesitancy, or else from Latin haesitantem. Related: Hesitantly.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper