Tottering: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ถโโ๏ธ
tottering
[ หtษtษrษชล ]
movement unsteadily
Tottering refers to the act of walking unsteadily, often as a result of weakness, instability, or inebriation. This term is commonly used to describe someone who is unbalanced and may fall over. The image it conjures is that of a person who is struggling to maintain their balance while moving forward, often swaying back and forth. It can also imply a sense of fragility, as if the person is on the verge of collapse with each step they take.
Synonyms
staggering, swaying, teetering, wobbling.
Examples of usage
- The toddler was tottering around the living room.
- After the long night of partying, he was tottering down the street.
- She was tottering on high heels for the first time.
- The elderly man was tottering as he exited the bus.
Translations
Translations of the word "tottering" in other languages:
๐ต๐น balanรงando
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฒเคกเคเคกเคพเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช torkelnd
๐ฎ๐ฉ terhuyung-huyung
๐บ๐ฆ ัะฐัะบะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ chwiejฤ cy siฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ใตใใตใใใ
๐ซ๐ท titubant
๐ช๐ธ tambaleante
๐น๐ท sendeleyen
๐ฐ๐ท ํ์ฒญ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๋
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ุชุฑูุญ
๐จ๐ฟ kolรฉbajรญcรญ se
๐ธ๐ฐ kolรญsajรบci
๐จ๐ณ ๆๆๆฌฒๅ
๐ธ๐ฎ zaฤuden
๐ฎ๐ธ halla
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะฐะนาะฐะปะฐััะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แฅแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ titrษyษn
๐ฒ๐ฝ tambaleante
Etymology
The word 'totter' originates from the Middle English term 'toteren', which means 'to walk unsteadily'. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English 'toterian', meaning 'to sway back and forth'. Early usages of the word were often associated with instability and lack of balance, frequently in reference to individuals who were either elderly or inebriated. Over time, the verb evolved, and 'totter' started to be used more broadly to describe any unstable or unsteady movement. The broadened usage reflects the social understanding of instability in both physical and metaphorical contexts, portraying not merely a physical state of being but also emotional or situational frailty.