Word Meanings - SHILLY-SHALLY - Book Publishers vocabulary database

To hesitate; to act in an irresolute manner; hence, to occupy one's self with trifles.

Related words: (words related to SHILLY-SHALLY)

• MANNERIST
  One addicted to mannerism; a person who, in action, bearing, or treatment, carries characteristic peculiarities to excess. See citation under Mannerism.
• MANNERISM
  Adherence to a peculiar style or manner; a characteristic mode of action, bearing, or treatment, carried to excess, especially in literature or art. Mannerism is pardonable,and is sometimes even agreeable, when the manner, though vicious, is natural
• OCCUPY
  1. To take or hold possession of; to hold or keep for use; to possess. Woe occupieth the fine of our gladness. Chaucer. The better apartments were already occupied. W. Irving 2. To hold, or fill, the dimensions of; to take up the room or space
• HESITATE
  haerere to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast. Cf. Aghast, 1. To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate
• HENCE
  ending; cf. -wards), also hen, henne, hennen, heonnen, heonene, AS. heonan, heonon, heona, hine; akin to OHG. hinnan, G. hinnen, OHG. 1. From this place; away. "Or that we hence wend." Chaucer. Arise, let us go hence. John xiv. 31. I will send
• IRRESOLUTE
  Not resolute; not decided or determined; wavering; given to doubt or irresolution. Weak and irresolute is man. Cowper. Syn. -- Wavering; vacillating; undetermined; undecided; unsettled; fickle; changeable; inconstant. -- Ir*res"o*lute*ly, adv. --
• HENCEFORWARD
  From this time forward; henceforth.
• MANNERLINESS
  The quality or state of being mannerly; civility; complaisance. Sir M. Hale.
• MANNERED
  1. Having a certain way, esp a. polite way, of carrying and conducting one's self. Give her princely training, that she may be Mannered as she is born. Shak. 2. Affected with mannerism; marked by excess of some characteristic peculiarity. His style
• MANNER
  manual, skillful, handy, fr. LL. manarius, for L. manuarius 1. Mode of action; way of performing or effecting anything; method; style; form; fashion. The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner
• HENCEFORTH
  From this time forward; henceforward. I never from thy side henceforth to stray. Milton.
• MANNERCHOR
  A German men's chorus or singing club.
• MANNERLY
  Showing good manners; civil; respectful; complaisant. What thou thinkest meet, and is most mannerly. Shak.
• HEREHENCE
  From hence.
• WHENCEFORTH
  From, or forth from, what or which place; whence. Spenser.
• UNMANNERLY
  Not mannerly; ill-bred; rude. -- adv.
• THENCEFROM
  From that place.
• THENCE
  see -wards) thennes, thannes , AS. thanon, thanan, thonan; akin to OHG. dannana, dannan, danan, and G. 1. From that place. "Bid him thence go." Chaucer. When ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Mark
• ARCHENCEPHALA
  The division that includes man alone. R. Owen.
• THENCEFORTH
  From that time; thereafter. If the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted it is thenceforth good for nothing. Matt. v. 13. Note: This word is sometimes preceded by from, -- a redundancy sanctioned by custom. Chaucer. John. xix. 12.
• OVERMANNER
  In an excessive manner; excessively. Wiclif.
• WHENCEEVER
  Whencesoever.
• ILL-MANNERED
  Impolite; rude.
• WELL-MANNERED
  Polite; well-bred; complaisant; courteous. Dryden.
• PREOCCUPY
  1. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held. 2. To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice. I Think it more respectful to the reader to leave something