hesitate
/ˈhezɪteɪt/verb
no obj.
1- pause before saying or doing something, especially through uncertainty（尤指由于不确定）（说话或做事前）犹豫, 停顿：
she hesitated, unsure of what to say
她犹豫不决, 没有把握该说什么
one hesitates over publicizing these things.
人们对于是否公开这些事会感到犹豫。
1.1
- with infinitive be reluctant to do something勉强, 不情愿：
he hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive.
他不愿意问得太多而破坏了气氛。
短语
he who hesitates is lost
- proverb delay or vacillation may have unfortunate or disastrous consequences.〈谚〉当断不断, 必受其患。
派生词
hesitater
nounhesitatingly
adverb词源
early 17th cent.: from Latin haesitat- 'stuck fast, left undecided', from the verb haesitare, from haerere 'stick, stay'.