faltered

Falter \Fal"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Faltered}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Faltering}.] [OE. falteren, faltren, prob. from fault.
   See {Fault}, v. & n.]
   1. To hesitate; to speak brokenly or weakly; to stammer; as,
      his tongue falters.
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            With faltering speech and visage incomposed.
                                                  --Milton.
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   2. To tremble; to totter; to be unsteady. "He found his legs
      falter." --Wiseman.
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   3. To hesitate in purpose or action.
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            Ere her native king
            Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms. --Shak.
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   4. To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; -- said
      of the mind or of thought.
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            Here indeed the power of disinct conception of space
            and distance falters.                 --I. Taylor.
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