Tottered: meaning, definitions and examples

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tottered

 

[ หˆtษ’tษ™rd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

movement unsteadily

To totter means to walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall. This term is often used to describe an unbalanced or wobbling gait, typically due to weakness, age, or intoxication.

Synonyms

stagger, sway, wobble

Examples of usage

  • The old man tottered down the street.
  • She tottered on her high heels at the party.
  • The toddler tottered as he learned to walk.
  • After the rollercoaster, he tottered back to his friends.
Context #2 | Verb

figurative decline

In a figurative sense, to totter can also mean to be weak or unstable in a particular situation, often referring to institutions, economies, or conditions that are in jeopardy or decline.

Synonyms

flounder, lurch, teeter

Examples of usage

  • The company tottered on the brink of bankruptcy.
  • Political stability in the region has tottered in recent months.
  • His grasp on reality seemed to totter as the situation worsened.

Translations

Translations of the word "tottered" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น balbuciar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฒเคกเคผเค–เคกเคผเคพเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช torkeln

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ terhuyung-huyung

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะบัƒะปัŒะณะฐั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ chwiejฤ…cy siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ˆใ‚ใ‚ใ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท chanceler

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tambalear

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sendelemek

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํœ˜์ฒญ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠุชุนุซุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kolรญbat se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ kolรญsaลฅ sa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‘‡ๆ‘‡ๆ™ƒๆ™ƒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zavijati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ dalla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัˆะฐะปั‹ั ะฑะฐััƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒแƒ‘แƒšแƒ“แƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sรผrรผลŸmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tambalear

Word origin

The word 'totter' has its origins in Middle English 'totteren', which comes from the Old English 'toterian', meaning 'to sway or to stagger'. It is related to the Proto-Germanic '*tutรด', which indicates an unsteady form of movement. The word has been part of the English lexicon since at least the 14th century, reflecting a transient and unstable manner of walking, commonly associated with the elderly or those affected by some form of impairment, either physical or environmental. Over time, the usage of 'totter' expanded beyond its literal meaning to encompass a broader use in describing fragile or precarious situations, often highlighting a state of vulnerability in multiple contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,804, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.