[fal.ter] vb fal.tered ; fal.ter.ing [ME] vi (14c) 1 a: to walk unsteadily: stumble b: to give way: totter "could feel my legs ~ing" c: to move waveringly or hesitatingly
2: to speak brokenly or weakly: stammer 3 a: to hesitate in purpose or action: waver b: to lose drive or effectiveness "the business was ~ing" ~ vt: to utter hesitatingly or brokenly syn see hesitate -- fal.ter.er n -- fal.ter.ing.ly adv
[2]falter n (1834): an act or instance of faltering