different between skeptic vs hesitate

English

Alternative forms

• sceptic (British)

Etymology

From Latin *scepticus, (attested only in plural Sceptici (“the sect of Skeptics”)), from Ancient Greek ????????? (skeptikós, “thoughtful, inquiring”), from ????????? (sképtomai, “I consider”), compare to ?????? (skopé?, “I view, examine”). (Note: In French, C in front of E and I had shifted (or was shifting) from the original [k] sound of Latin to the [s] sound, which might explain the double spelling, as some might have wanted to make sure that [k] would remain [k] by bringing back the K from the Greek spelling.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sk?p.t?k/

Noun

skeptic (plural skeptics) (American spelling)

1. Someone who habitually doubts beliefs and claims presented as accepted by others, requiring strong evidence before accepting any belief or claim.
2. Someone undecided as to what is true.
3. A type of agnostic; someone skeptical towards religion.

Related terms

• skeptical
• skepticism

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “skeptic”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• skeptic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• skeptic in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• skeptic at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• pickest, pickets, septick, spicket

English

Alternative forms

• hæsitate (archaic)

Etymology

From Latin haesitatus, past participle ofhaesitare, intensive of haerere (“to hesitate, stick fast;to hang or hold fast”). Compare aghast, gaze, adhere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?z?te?t/

Verb

hesitate (third-person singular simple present hesitates, present participle hesitating, simple past and past participle hesitated)

1. (intransitive) To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
   • September 1, 1742, Alexander Pope, letter to Racine

     I shall not hesitate to declare myself very cordially, in regard to some particulars about which you have desired an answer.

2. (intransitive) To stammer; to falter in speaking.
3. (transitive, poetic, rare) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.
   • a. 1724, Alexander Pope, The Ms. at Longleat

     Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Synonyms

• (to stop respecting decision or action): demur, falter, mammer, scruple, waver; see also Thesaurus:hesitate
• (to falter in speaking): balbucinate, balbutiate, falter, hem, haw, stammer, stutter
• (to utter with hesitation): falter

Derived terms

• hesitant
• hesitation

Translations

Further reading

• hesitate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• hesitate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• hesitate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• athetise, hatesite