[no obj.]start to lose strength or momentum 开始减弱;开始失去势头 her smile faltered and then faded. 她的笑容渐渐收敛,然后消失了。 [as adj. faltering]his faltering career. 他渐入低谷的事业。 ■speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice 吞吞吐吐地说;声音颤抖地说 [with direct speech]‘A-Adam?’ he faltered. “亚—亚当?”他声音颤抖地问道。 ■move unsteadily or in a way that shows lack of confidence 蹒跚,踉跄;行动畏缩 he faltered and finally stopped in midstride. 他退缩了,最终停步不前。
派生 falterer noun falteringly adverb 语源
late Middle English (in the senses 'stammer' and 'stagger'): perhaps from the verb fold (which was occasionally used of the faltering of the legs or tongue) + -ter as in totter