falter

fal·ter  (fôltr)

intr.v. fal·tered, fal·ter·ing, fal·ters

1. To be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence; waver. See Synonyms at hesitate.

2. To speak hesitatingly; stammer.

3.

a. To move ineptly or haltingly; stumble.

b. To operate or perform unsteadily or with a loss of effectiveness: The automobile engine faltered.

n.

1. Unsteadiness in speech or action.

2. A faltering sound.

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[Middle English falteren, to stagger, possibly from Old Norse faltrask, to be puzzled, hesitate.]

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falter·er n.

falter·ing·ly adv.

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falter [ˈfɔːltə]

vb

1. (intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver

2. (intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble

3. to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer

n

1. uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action

2. a quavering or irregular sound

[probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic faltrast]

falterer  n

falteringly  adv

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	falter - the act of pausing uncertainly; "there was a hesitation in his speech" faltering, waver, hesitation pause - temporary inactivity
Verb	1.	falter - be unsure or weak; "Their enthusiasm is faltering" waver hesitate, waffle, waver - pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness; "Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures"
	2.	falter - move hesitatingly, as if about to give way waver move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right"
	3.	falter - walk unsteadily; "The drunk man stumbled about" stumble, bumble walk - use one's feet to advance; advance by steps; "Walk, don't run!"; "We walked instead of driving"; "She walks with a slight limp"; "The patient cannot walk yet"; "Walk over to the cabinet"
	4.	falter - speak haltingly; "The speaker faltered when he saw his opponent enter the room" stammer, stutter, bumble mouth, speak, talk, verbalise, verbalize, utter - express in speech; "She talks a lot of nonsense"; "This depressed patient does not verbalize"

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falter

verb

1. hesitate, delay, waver, vacillate, break I have not faltered in my quest for a new future.
hesitate last, continue, survive, proceed, endure, persist, keep going, persevere, stand firm, stick at

2. tumble, shake, tremble, totter As he neared the house, he faltered.

3. stutter, pause, stumble, hesitate, stammer, speak haltingly Her voice faltered and she had to stop a moment to control it.

Translations

falter [ˈfɔːltəʳ]

A. VI (= waver) [person] → vacilar, titubear; [voice] → entrecortarse, quebrarse; [steps] → vacilar; [courage] → fallar, faltar
without faltering → sin vacilar

B. VT → decir titubeando

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falter [ˈfɔːltə^r] vi

(when walking) [person] → chanceler, vaciller; [steps]
His steps faltered → Son pas se fit plus hésitant., Son pas se fit moins assuré.

(when speaking) [person, voice] → hésiter

(in resolve) [person] → fléchir, faiblir

[economy, demand, process] → fléchir

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falter

vi (speaker) → stocken; (steps, horse) → zögern

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falter [ˈfɔːltəʳ] vi (voice, speaker) → esitare; (interest) → scemare; (engine) → perder colpi
his voice faltered with emotion → la sua voce era rotta dall'emozione
his steps faltered → ha vacillato

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falter

v falter [ˈfoːltə]

1 to stumble or hesitate She walked without faltering. aarsel, huiwer, struikel يَتَرَنَّح колебая се váhat halte; vakle zögern κοντοστέκομαι, τρικλίζω, ταλαντεύομαι vacilar vääratama, kõhklema تلو تلو خوردن epäröidä hésiter לְהַסֵס हिम्मत हारना oklijevati, kolebati se botladozik ragu-ragu hika; hrasa esitare ためらう 비틀거리다 svirduliuoti, klupčioti grīļoties ragu-ragu wankelen vakle, famle, nøle potykać się hesitar a şovăi; a se îm­pot­moli колебаться váhať omahovati spoticati se stappla, vackla ลังเล; รีรอ sendelemek 躊躇 спотикатися; вагатися لڑکھڑانا یا جھجھکنا nao núng 踌躇

2 to speak with hesitation Her voice faltered. aarsel, stotter, hakkel يَتَلَعْثَم запъвам се zajíkat se svigte; stamme stocken κομπιάζω titubear takerduma با تردید حرف زدن takerrella hésiter לְגַמגֵם हिचकिचाना mucati, zapinjati (glas) akadozva elmond vmit terbata-bata stama esitare 口ごもる 주저하다, 더듬다 užsikirsti stomīties; minstināties tersangkut-sangkut haperen famle, nøle brzmieć niepewnie, załamywać się vacilar a tremura запинаться zajachtávať sa jecljati oklevati stocka sig, bli osäker พูดอย่างลังเลใจ kekelemek 結巴地說 мимрити, говорити невпевнено رک رک کر بولنا (giọng nói) ấp úng 结巴地说

adj faltering

aarselend, stamelend, struikelend مُتَرَنِّح، مُتَلَعْثِم нерешителен váhavý, zajíkavý usikker; vaklende; tøvende zögernd, stockend διστακτικός vacilante kõhklev ترسیده؛ لرزان horjuva hésitant לֹא יָצִיב लडखड़ाता हुआ kolebav, uzdrman, koji muca (oklijeva) botladozó ragu-ragu óstyrkur esitante ためらいがちな 주저하는 netvirtas, svirduliuojantis nedrošs; grīļīgs; (par balsi) drebošs ragu-ragu wankelend, haperend vaklende, famlende, nølende chwiejny, niepewny vacilante ezitant запинающийся váhavý obotavljiv oklevajući vacklande, osäker ตะกุกตะกัก kekeleyen 顫抖的 нерішучий; тремтячий لڑکھڑایا ہوا ấp úng, ngập ngừng 颤抖的

adv falteringly

aarselend, stamelend, struikelend مُتَرَنِّحا، مُتَلَعْثِما несигурно váhavě, zajíkavě usikkert; vaklende; tøvende zögernd, stockend διστακτικά vacilantemente kõhklevalt تلوتلو خوران؛ با ترس و لرز kangerrellen d'un pas mal assuré; d'une voix tremblante בְּהִיסוּס विचलित होना oklijevajuci, nerado, preko volje ingadozva dengan keraguan með óstyrkum hætti in maniera esitante ためらいがちに 주저하며 netvirtai, svirduliuojant nedroši; grīļīgi; (par balsi) dreboši dengan ragu-ragu wankelen, haperend usikkert, vaklende chwiejnie, niepewnie vacilantemente/com hesitação şovăitor; cu glas tre­mu­rător с запинкой váhavo omahujoče oklevajući vacklande, osäkert อย่างตะกุกตะกัก kekeleyerek 顫抖地 нерішуче لڑکھڑاتے ہویے ấp úng; ngập ngừng 颤抖地