hesitancy en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin haereō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō ▲ Latin -tō Latin -itō Latin -titō Latin haesitō Latin haesitāns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin haesitantiabor. English hesitancy From Latin haesitantia. By surface analysis, hesitant + -cy.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) A pausing or halting before beginning a task, often as a result of some fear or uncertainty about the outcome.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hesitancies | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| hæsitancy | alternative | lexicographic | |
| hesitance | alternative | lexicographic |