Word Study
stammer
CIDE DICTIONARY
stammer, v. i. [OE. stameren, fr. AS. stamur, stamer, stammering; akin to D. & LG. stameren to stammer, G. stammeln, OHG. stammal, stamm, Dan. stamme, Sw. stamma, Icel. stama, stamma, OHG. & Dan. stam stammering, Icel. stamr, Goth. stamms, and to G. stemmen to bear against, stumm dumb, D. stom. Cf. Stem to resist, Stumble.].
To make involuntary stops in uttering syllables or words; to hesitate or falter in speaking; to speak with stops and difficulty; to stutter. [1913 Webster]
"I would thou couldst stammer, that thou mightest pour this concealed man out of thy mouth, as wine comes out of a narrow-mouthed bottle, either too much at once, or none at all." [1913 Webster]
stammer, v. t.
To utter or pronounce with hesitation or imperfectly; -- sometimes with out. [1913 Webster]
stammer, n.
Defective utterance, or involuntary interruption of utterance; a stutter. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
stammer, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. speak (habitually, or on occasion from embarrassment etc.) with halting articulation, esp. with pauses or rapid repetitions of the same syllable.
2 tr. (often foll. by out) utter (words) in this way (stammered out an excuse).
--n.
1 a tendency to stammer.
2 an instance of stammering.
--v.
1 intr. speak (habitually, or on occasion from embarrassment etc.) with halting articulation, esp. with pauses or rapid repetitions of the same syllable.
2 tr. (often foll. by out) utter (words) in this way (stammered out an excuse).
--n.
1 a tendency to stammer.
2 an instance of stammering.
Derivative
stammerer n. stammeringly adv.
Etymology
OE stamerian f. WG
THESAURUS
stammer
balbuties, be guilty, blush, change color, color, color up, crimson, dysphemia, falter, faltering, flush, gibber, halt, hammer, haw, hem, hem and haw, hesitate, hesitation, hum, hum and haw, jabber, look guilty, lurch, mammer, mantle, palilalia, pause, redden, splutter, sputter, squirm with self-consciousness, stagger, stammering, stumble, stutter, stuttering, topple, totter, traulism, turn red, wobbleROGET THESAURUS
stammer
Stammering
VB stammer, stutter, hesitate, falter, hammer, balbutiate, balbucinate, haw, hum and haw, be unable to put two words together, mumble, mutter, maud, mauder, whisper, mince, lisp, jabber, gibber, sputter, splutter, muffle, mump, drawl, mouth, croak, speak thick, speak through the nose, snuffle, clip one's words, murder the language, murder the King's English, murder the Queen's English, mispronounce, missay.For further exploring for "stammer" in Webster Dictionary Online
