vacilla-, vacillat- +
(Latin: flow, wave, to sway back and forth)
1. The quality or state of wavering and being indecisive.
2. A state of wavering; fluctuation; inconstancy.
2. A state of wavering; fluctuation; inconstancy.
vacillant (adjective)
Wavering; hesitant; indecisive; fluctuating; unsteady; uncertain in deciding what to do.
vacillate (VAS uh layt") (verb), vacillates; vacillated; vacillating
1. To be indecisive or to waver, changing between one opinion and another one: Yesterday Hank seemed to be so sure about where he would be going this weekend, but today he is vacillating as to whether he will visit his mother or go to the football game.
2. To be undecided about something; to waver between conflicting positions or courses of action: Susan appeared to be vacillating between eating a piece of chocolate cake or a piece of raspberry strudel.
3. To go back and forth in a confusing manner: It made the clerk at the library frustrated to watch Pete vacillate back and forth between which books he was going check out and which ones he would be leaving there.
4. To move or to sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern: The earthquake caused Christa's house to vacillate back and forth and up and down.
5. Etymology: from Latin vacillationem, "a reeling, a wavering"; from the stem of vacillare, "to sway to and fro".
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2. To be undecided about something; to waver between conflicting positions or courses of action: Susan appeared to be vacillating between eating a piece of chocolate cake or a piece of raspberry strudel.
3. To go back and forth in a confusing manner: It made the clerk at the library frustrated to watch Pete vacillate back and forth between which books he was going check out and which ones he would be leaving there.
4. To move or to sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern: The earthquake caused Christa's house to vacillate back and forth and up and down.
5. Etymology: from Latin vacillationem, "a reeling, a wavering"; from the stem of vacillare, "to sway to and fro".
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vacillating (adjective), more vacillating, most vacillating
1. Referring to being indecisive or irresolute and uncertain in one's mind or opinion: Mike's vacillating tendency makes him a poor leader because no one knows what he really wants to be done.
2. Descriptive of a swaying movement which is unsteady and wavering, tottering, or staggering: Mary's vacillating way of walking on the sidewalk was a result of the uncomfortable shoes that she was wearing.
3. Pertaining to someone who is oscillating or fluctuating; that is, swinging indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another one: George was in a vacillating frame of mind as to whether he should go to the football game tonight or stay home and study for the examinations that he will have to take tomorrow in school.
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2. Descriptive of a swaying movement which is unsteady and wavering, tottering, or staggering: Mary's vacillating way of walking on the sidewalk was a result of the uncomfortable shoes that she was wearing.
3. Pertaining to someone who is oscillating or fluctuating; that is, swinging indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another one: George was in a vacillating frame of mind as to whether he should go to the football game tonight or stay home and study for the examinations that he will have to take tomorrow in school.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
1. A state of indecision or irresolution.
2. Unsteady movement; fluctuation.
3. A wavering; a moving one way and then the other; a reeling or staggering.
2. A fluctuation of one's mind; unsteadiness.
4. The change from one object to another in an indecisive manner.
5. Being uncertain as to what to do, or to change frequently between two opinions.
2. Unsteady movement; fluctuation.
3. A wavering; a moving one way and then the other; a reeling or staggering.
2. A fluctuation of one's mind; unsteadiness.
4. The change from one object to another in an indecisive manner.
5. Being uncertain as to what to do, or to change frequently between two opinions.
1. Someone who hesitates; usually out of fear.
2. Anyone who swings indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another one.
2. Anyone who swings indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another one.
vacillatory (adjective)
1. Inclined to waver; irresolute (unable to act or to decide quickly or firmly).
2. Being unsure and unable to make decisions: "The senator presented a vacillatory policy to the congress."
2. Being unsure and unable to make decisions: "The senator presented a vacillatory policy to the congress."
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