hesitated

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.
   • He hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment.

   Synonyms:

   demur

2. (intransitive) To stammer; to falter in speaking.

   Synonyms:

   balbucinate, balbutiate, falter, hem, haw, stammer, stutter, stumble

3. (poetic, rare, transitive) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.
   • Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.a. 1724, Alexander Pope, The Ms. at Longleat

   Synonyms:

   falter