Haltingly: meaning, definitions and examples

The word 'haltingly' is derived from the adjective 'halting', which comes from the Middle English 'haltin' or 'haltinge', itself originating from the Old English 'haltian', meaning 'to be lame' or 'to limp'. Over time, the meaning evolved to imply a lack of smoothness or continuity, particularly in actions or speech. The adverbial form 'haltingly' was formed by adding the suffix '-ly', which turns adjectives into adverbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. The use of 'haltingly' in English literature and speech started to become more prevalent in the 19th century as writers began to describe characters' hesitant or uncertain speech, reflecting broader themes of anxiety, nervousness, and emotional struggle. Today, 'haltingly' is commonly used to describe not just speech, but also any action that is performed with pauses or interruptions, reflecting a sense of difficulty or insecurity.

This word's position of #31,634 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 31631 undesirability
• 31632 overstating
• 31633 abided
• 31634 haltingly
• 31635 balsa
• 31636 regressing
• 31637 interminably
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