teetered

Teetered is the past tense and past participle of the verb teeter. It means to move or balance unsteadily, as if close to falling, or to be in a precarious or uncertain position. Physically, it describes a person or object that wobbles on its edge; figuratively, it describes uncertainty or hesitation in judgment, decision making, or outcomes.

Etymology: Teeter originates from Middle English and is of uncertain precise origin; the past tense forms regularly as teetered. The term often appears with prepositions such as on or between to indicate the source of instability: teetered on the ledge, teetered between options. The sense of balance and instability is common across both literal and metaphorical uses.

Usage: In contemporary prose, teetered is used to convey precarious balance or indecision. It is similar to but subtly different from tottered (which stresses frailty and collapse) and wobbled (which emphasizes movement). The phrase teetered between indicates a choice not yet resolved; teetered on can imply risk of tipping into a different state or outcome.

Examples: The chair teetered under his weight. The stock market teetered on the edge of a decline. Her plans teetered between bold novelty and cautious practicality.

See also: teetering, totter, wobble, precariousness.