falter

See also: Falter

English

Etymology

From Middle English falteren (“to stagger”), further origin unknown. Possibly from a North Germanic source such as Old Norse faltrask (“be encumbered”). May also be a frequentative of fold, although the change from d to t is unusual.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɒltə/

Noun

falter

1. unsteadiness.

Translations

unsteadiness

• German: Wanken n
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Verb

falter (third-person singular simple present falters, present participle faltering, simple past and past participle faltered)

1. To waver or be unsteady; to weaken or trail off.
   • (Can we date this quote by Wiseman and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     He found his legs falter.

   • 2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide‎^[1], page 18:

     Considering the results of the study, today John may be buoyed at the clear trend of increasing numbers of new “lishes” for each successive decade since the 1950s, and the fact that nothing in the data suggests this trend is likely to falter.

2. (transitive, intransitive) To stammer; to utter with hesitation, or in a weak and trembling manner.
   • (Can we date this quote by Byron and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     And here he faltered forth his last farewell.

   • (Can we date this quote by John Milton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     With faltering speech and visage incomposed.

3. To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; said of the mind or of thought.
   • (Can we date this quote by I. Taylor and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

     Here indeed the power of distinct conception of space and distance falters.

4. To stumble.
5. (figuratively) To lose faith or vigor; to doubt or abandon (a cause).
   • 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:

     And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter.

6. To hesitate in purpose or action.
   • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     Ere her native king / Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms.

7. To cleanse or sift, as barley.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)

Translations

To waver or be unsteady

• Bulgarian: залитам (bg) (zalitam)
• Czech: zakolísat pf
• Dutch: wankelen (nl)
• German: wanken (de)
• Maori: tapepa, tapepe
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Occitan: trantalhar (oc), trantolar
• Russian: дрогнуть (ru) (drognutʹ)
• Swedish: vackla (sv)

To stammer — see stammer

To stumble

• Bulgarian: спъвам се (spǎvam se)
• Czech: klopýtat impf, klopýtnout pf, zakopnout pf, potácet se impf, zapotácet se pf
• German: stolpern (de)
• Italian: inciampare (it)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Maori: tapepa, tapatu
• Occitan: trabucar (oc), trantalhar (oc), trantolar
• Russian: оступаться (ru) (ostupatʹsja), спотыкаться (ru) (spotykatʹsja)

To hesitate

• Catalan: dubtar (ca)
• Czech: váhat (cs) impf, zaváhat pf
• German: zögern (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Occitan: trantalhar (oc), esitar (oc)
• Spanish: dudar (es)