waver Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun someone who communicates by waving
noun the act of pausing uncertainly
falter; faltering; hesitation.
- there was a hesitation in his speech
noun the act of moving back and forth
flicker; flutter.
verb pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
hesitate; waffle.
- Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures
verb be unsure or weak
falter.
- Their enthusiasm is faltering
verb move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
falter.
verb move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern
vacillate; fluctuate.
- the line on the monitor vacillated
verb move back and forth very rapidly
flitter; flicker; quiver; flutter.
- the candle flickered
verb sway to and fro
weave.
verb give off unsteady sounds, alternating in amplitude or frequency
quaver.

OE. waveren, from AS. wæfre wavering, restless. See Wave, v. i.

imperfect & past participle Wavered ; present participle & verbal noun Wavering

To play or move to and fro; to move one way and the other; hence, to totter; to reel; to swing; to flutter.
With banners and pennons wavering with the wind. Ld. Berners.

Thou wouldst waver on one of these trees as a terror to all evil speakers against dignities. Sir W. Scott.
To be unsettled in opinion; to vacillate; to be undetermined; to fluctuate; as, to water in judgment.
Let us hold fast . . . without wavering. Heb. x. 23.

In feeble hearts, propense enough before To waver, or fall off and join with idols. Milton.
Syn. -- To reel; totter; vacillate. See Fluctuate.

From Wave, or Waver, v.