hesitation

[hez-i-tey-shuh n] /ˌhɛz ɪˈteɪ ʃən/

noun

the act of hesitating; a delay due to uncertainty of mind or fear:

His hesitation cost him the championship.

a state of doubt or uncertainty.

a halting or faltering in speech.

Origin

1615-25; < Latin haesitātiōn- (stem of haesitātiō). See hesitate, -ion

Related forms

prehesitation, noun

Synonyms

2. hesitancy, indecision, irresolution, vacillation. 3. stammer.

Examples from the web for hesitation

There could be no hesitation, no uncertainty in his movements.
Biologists have little hesitation in linking humans' success to their sociality.
But the government's hesitation in saving its national champions nonetheless demonstrates its fiscal limits.
As always, that's caused no hesitation in wild speculation on the part of paleontologists.
Some people are able to tackle those problems head-on, without any apparent fear or hesitation.
There is a little hesitation on the part of modistes, who do not want to change the fashion too abruptly, as.
My only hesitation is that such explanations don't win over those who see the original examples as exactly parallel.
Given a long stick and a stone too big to fit down the tube, they chose the stick without hesitation.
Any hesitation on their part and they can kiss it all goodbye.
When humans are in dire need there should be no hesitation to help.

Word Origin and History for hesitation

c.1400, from Old French hesitacion or directly from Latin haesitationem (nominative haesitatio) "a hesitation, stammering," figuratively "irresolution, uncertainty," from haesitare "stick fast, remain fixed; stammer in speech," figuratively "hesitate, be irresolute, be at a loss, be undecided," frequentative of haerere "stick, cling," from PIE *ghais-e (cf. Lithuanian gaistu "to delay, tarry"), from root *ghais- "to adhere; hesitate."