halting
UK: ˈhɔːltɪŋ | US: ˈhɔːltɪŋ
adj. proceeding hesitantly or with interruptions; uneven in rhythm or quality
v. present participle of "halt" (to stop or cause to stop)
The word "halting" originates from the Old English verb healtian, meaning "to limp" or "to be lame," which evolved into "halt" (to stop abruptly). The addition of the suffix "-ing" forms either the present participle (e.g., "He is halting the process") or an adjective describing something that is hesitant or irregular (e.g., "halting speech"). The dual meaning reflects both the action of stopping and the resulting fragmented quality.
The old man walked with a halting gait due to his injured leg.
She gave a halting explanation, pausing frequently to gather her thoughts.
The machine emitted a halting noise before shutting down completely.
His halting attempts at French amused the native speakers.
The project progressed in halting stages because of funding delays.