arrière-pensée
noun
ar·ri·ère-pen·sée ˌa-rē-ər-päⁿ-ˈsā 
: mental reservation
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French, "ulterior motive, mental reservation," from arrièrre "back, rear" (going back to Old French arriere, adverb, "back, behind") + pensée "thought" — more at arrear, pansy
First Known Use
1617, in the meaning defined above
arrière-pensées
noun
as in irresolutions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- irresolutions
- second thoughts
- fence-sittings
- wobblings
- shilly-shallies
- wabblings
- hesitances
- vacillations
- hesitations
- indecisions
- pauses
- hesitancies
- misgivings
- indeterminations
- incertitudes
- procrastinations
- retreats
- delays
- reconsiderations
- uncertainties
- considerations
- doubts
- reservations
- deliberations
- debates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- resolutions
- determinations
- confidences
- certitudes
- certainties
- alacrities