zaudern

Zaudern is a German verb meaning to hesitate, tarry, or be reluctant to act. It implies a deliberate delay in making a decision or carrying out an action, often due to concerns about consequences, risks, or moral scruples. The sense is of careful or reluctant deliberation rather than a momentary doubt.

Register and usage: Zaudern is primarily formal or literary; in everyday speech, zögern is the more common equivalent. Zauden commonly appears in written language, including historical, political, or rhetorical contexts, and can describe individuals, groups, or institutions that hesitate before committing to a course of action.

Etymology and style: The word is attested in Early Modern German. Its exact origin is not completely clear, but it is generally treated as related to older Germanic terms for delaying or lingering. It shares semantic space with zögern but carries a stronger stylistic or elevated nuance.

Conjugation and examples: Zaudern is a regular verb. Present tense: ich zaudere, du zauderst, er zaudert. Simple past: ich zauderte, du zaudertest, er zauderte. Example: Der Minister zauderte lange, bevor er eine Entscheidung traf. Another example: Sie zauderten, den Vertrag zu unterschreiben. Synonyms and related terms include zögern (more common in speech) and scheuen (to be reluctant due to fear or risk).

See also: Zögern, Zögerlichkeit.