Totter

Pronunciation: /ˈtɑtər/

Definitions of totter

verb to move unsteadily or in a way that is likely to fall or collapse

Example Sentences

A1 The toddler began to totter as he took his first steps.

A2 The old man tottered down the street with the help of his cane.

B1 The injured hiker tottered on the rocky path, trying to make it back to camp.

B2 The building began to totter as the earthquake shook the ground.

C1 The economy continues to totter on the brink of collapse.

C2 The company's reputation tottered after the scandal was exposed.

Examples of totter in a Sentence

formal The elderly woman began to totter as she struggled to maintain her balance.

informal I saw the toddler totter across the room as he tried to walk on his own.

slang After a few drinks, he started to totter around the party looking a bit wobbly.

figurative The economy seems to totter on the brink of collapse as unemployment rates continue to rise.

Grammatical Forms of totter

• past tense: tottered
• plural: totters
• comparative: more tottering
• superlative: most tottering
• present tense: totter
• future tense: will totter
• perfect tense: have tottered
• continuous tense: is tottering
• singular: totter
• positive degree: totter
• infinitive: to totter
• gerund: tottering
• participle: tottered

Origin and Evolution of totter

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'totter' originated from Middle English 'toteren' which means to shake, stagger, or wobble.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'totter' has retained its original meaning of unsteady movement but has also come to be used metaphorically to describe a person's uncertain or shaky behavior or decisions.