Etymology of the English word hesitate
the English word
hesitatederived from the Latin word
haesitatio (hesitation, hesitating; stammering)
derived from the Latin word
haesitare (stick hesitate, be undecided; be stuck)
derived from the Latin word
haerere (stick, adhere, cling to)
Date
The earliest known usage of hesitate in English dates from the 17th century.
Derivations in English
hesitative,
hesitated,
hesitatingCognates
French
hésiter, Latin
haesitareUsage
Word found in Modern English
