to pause or hold back, esp in doubt or indecision
Trust the man who hesitates in his speech and is quick and steady in action — George Santayana
to be reluctant or unwilling to do something
She hesitated to take such a drastic step
hesitater noun
hesitating adj
hesitatingly adv
hesitation /-ʹtaysh(ə)n/ noun
[Latin haesitatus, past part. of haesitare to stick fast, hesitate]