Etymology Map
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Hesitate

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to pause before acting

Where does the word "hesitate" come from? It comes from Latin haesitare, adopted directly into English (1620s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
haesitare
Latin · ancient
"to stick fast"
a frequentative of 'haerere', to stick, the root of 'adhere'
2
Stage 2 of 2
hesitate
English · 1620s
"to hold back"
'he who hesitates is lost' dates from the 1700s
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Hesitate’s story begins in Latin: haesitare meant “to stick fast.” A frequentative of 'haerere', to stick, the root of 'adhere'. It reached English by 1620s as hesitate. 'he who hesitates is lost' dates from the 1700s. Today, hesitate means to pause before acting.