Hoverings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Suspended in the air with little or no movement, akin to the way certain creatures or objects float effortlessly
2. Remaining in one place while maintaining a position aloft, similar to a bird gliding or a drone staying steady
3. Existing in a state of uncertainty or indecision, while being physically present or emotionally lingering above a situation

Etymology: "Hoverings" is the plural of "hovering," so it is the form of the verb "hover" (or its present participle) used as a noun for repeated or multiple instances of hovering. The plural marks separate episodes or occasions in which something stays suspended in one place, as in a kestrel's hoverings above a field or a drone's several hoverings over a site. The base verb "hover" traces back to Middle English "hoveren," meaning to hang about or linger, and it is closely related to the older sense of waiting or loitering nearby. The idea of staying in one spot while moving slightly is the core of the word, which is why it fits both birds in flight and aircraft holding position.

Synonyms: floating, suspensions, hangings, driftings, glidings

Antonyms: settlements, landings, descents, plummets, falls