/e.zi.te/
Translation
to hesitate, to think twice
Word origin
From Latin haesitare ('to stick fast, to stammer'), a frequentative of haerere ('to cling'). English 'hesitate' and 'adhere' share the root.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- haesitare
- English cognates
- hesitate, adhere
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | hésite | hésitais | hésitai | hésiterai | hésiterais |
| tu | hésites | hésitais | hésitas | hésiteras | hésiterais |
| il/elle | hésite | hésitait | hésita | hésitera | hésiterait |
| nous | hésitons | hésitions | hésitâmes | hésiterons | hésiterions |
| vous | hésitez | hésitiez | hésitâtes | hésiterez | hésiteriez |
| ils/elles | hésitent | hésitaient | hésitèrent | hésiteront | hésiteraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | hésite | hésitasse |
| tu | hésites | hésitasses |
| il/elle | hésite | hésitât |
| nous | hésitions | hésitassions |
| vous | hésitiez | hésitassiez |
| ils/elles | hésitent | hésitassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | hésite |
| nous | hésitons |
| vous | hésitez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- hésitant
- Past participle
- hésité · hésitée · hésités · hésitées
Examples
.
She is still torn between the two dresses.
' .
Do not hesitate to ask questions.
.
He hesitated a long while before answering.
.
We were reluctant to leave without him.
, l' .
Without hesitating, she jumped into the cold water.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
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hésiter: worksheet, infographic and listicle
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 47.