hesitate

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hes·i·tate / ˈheziˌtāt/ • v. [intr.] pause before saying or doing something, esp. through uncertainty: she hesitated, unsure of what to say. ∎  be reluctant to do something: he hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive.DERIVATIVES: hes·i·tat·er / -ˌtātər/ n.hes·i·tat·ing·ly / -ˌtāting/ adv.

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