Etymology
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hesitation (n.)

c. 1400, from Old French hesitacion or directly from Latin haesitationem (nominative haesitatio) "a hesitation, stammering," figuratively "irresolution, uncertainty," noun of action from past participle stem of haesitare "stick fast, remain fixed; stammer in speech," figuratively "hesitate, be irresolute, be at a loss, be undecided," frequentative of haerere (past participle haesus, first person perfect indicative haesi) "to adhere, stick, cling."

This is said by Watkins to be from PIE root *ghais- "to adhere, hesitate" (source also of Lithuanian gaišti "to delay, tarry, be slow"), but some linguists reject the proposed connection; de Vaan offers no etymology.

Entries linking to hesitation

adhere (v.)

1590s, from French adhérer "to stick, adhere" (15c., corrected from earlier aderer, 14c.) or directly from Latin adhaerare "to stick, cling to," from ad "to" (see ad-) + haerere "to stick" (see hesitation). Originally often of persons, "to cleave to a leader, cause, party, etc." (compare adherent (n.), which still often retains this sense). Related: Adhered; adhering.

adherence (n.)

mid-15c., "steady attachment of the mind or feelings to a person, cause, belief, etc.," from Old French adhérence, from Medieval Latin adhaerentia, abstract noun from Latin adhaerent-, present participle stem of adhaerare "stick to," from ad "to" (see ad-) + haerere "to stick" (see hesitation). Rare in a physical sense, adhesion being the usual word for that.

updated on January 28, 2018

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Dictionary entries near hesitation

Herzegovina

hesitance

hesitancy

hesitant

hesitate

hesitation

hesitative

Hesperides

Hesperus

Hessian

hessonite

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