Totterings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To move unsteadily or wobble while walking, as if about to fall
2. to sway back and forth precariously, maintaining a delicate balance
3. to exhibit instability or uncertainty in one's movements or actions

Etymology: "Totterings" is the plural of "tottering," the present participle and gerund of the verb "totter." The plural form is used when describing several separate instances of unsteady swaying, such as the uncertain wobbles of a toddler or a stack of objects repeatedly shifting on its base. "Totter" itself goes back to Middle English, where it appears in the sense of swaying or shaking, and it is connected to the older verb "tot," which carries a similar idea of shaking or vibrating. The "-er" ending is a frequentative suffix, marking repeated or continued action, so "totter" describes motion that keeps going back and forth rather than a single movement.

Synonyms: staggerings, wobblings