mammeringn.
/ˈmamərɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈmæmərɪŋ/ Now rare.
1. A stammering or muttering.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > murmuring or muttering
blabberingc1375
mammeringa1425
mumblingc1440
mumming1440
rumbling1440
mutteringc1475
buzzing1532
momblishness1532
hummel-bummel1537
murmuration1541
mumblement1595
babblinga1599
hummering1637
mutter1637
fumble1647
murmur1704
admurmuration1727
slurring1806
the mind > language > speech > defective or inarticulate speech > [noun] > stammer or stammering
stammering1357
wlafferinga1387
mammeringa1425
stuttingc1430
stackeringc1440
stotingc1440
tattling1481
staggering1565
manting1568
maffling1577
stuttering1595
buffing1600
stammeringness1637
titubation1641
balbuties1655
traulism1678
hesitation1709
hammering1731
hobbling1753
stammer1773
mant1801
stutter1843
Hottentotism1871
hesitatingness1890
a1425 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 668 (MED) Hec mutulatio, Ae., mameryng.
1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Fiiv [He] dranke to his wyfe & fell to his mamerings and mounched a pace.
1945 A. L. Rowse West-Country Stories 17 The innumerable mammering of bats' voices.
2. A state of doubt, hesitation, or perplexity; chiefly in in a mammering.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [noun]
yea-and-nayc1384
vacillationc1400
titteringa1413
stackeringc1440
wondingc1440
fluctuationc1450
waver1519
mammering1532
uncertainty1548
wavering1548
to and fro1553
suspense1560
staggering1565
suspension1568
mammery1578
demur1581
branle1591
dilly-dally1592
hesitance1601
irresolution1601
uncertainness1601
undecision1611
waveringness1614
hesitancy1617
unsettledness1619
hesitation1622
unresolvednessa1626
doubleness of minda1628
wavinga1628
swagging1636
poise1637
mambling1640
stickagea1647
vacillancy1668
whifflinga1677
hovering1679
unresolve1679
irresoluteness1686
shilly-shally1755
indecisiona1763
undecisiveness1779
indecisiveness1793
oscillation1798
flexility1815
shilly-shallying1842
swaying1850
Hamletism1852
teeter1855
havering1866
off and on1875
dilly-dallying1879
double-mindedness1881
hesitatingness1890
dither1958
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]
twiredec888
orrathc1175
twofoldc1175
twifoldc1200
waveringc1315
uncertain1382
suspensec1440
mammeringa1450
flowing?1504
floghtering1521
vacillant1521
in a mammering1532
double-minded1552
unstaid1561
unresolute1570
unresolved?1571
staggeringa1577
frittle1579
irresolute1579
cheverel1583
off and on1583
halting1585
unsettleda1593
unresolving1599
demurring1607
waving1611
suspensive1614
hoveringa1616
startling1619
irresolved1621
hesitating1622
indetermined1628
variousa1643
branling1645
hesitant1647
non-sincere1656
hesitatious1657
humdrum1660
shuttlecock1660
yea-and-nay1672
swaying1688
interpendent1708
undetermined1718
Squadronec1720
hesitatorya1734
volanta1734
shilly-shally1734
dilly-dally1749
niffy-naffy1765
wiggle-waggle1778
undecided1779
undecisive1780
indecisive1787
conflicted1789
hesitative1795
undeciding1802
vacillating1814
yea-nay1827
demurrant1836
willy-nilly1839
shilly-shallying1842
oscillative1852
Hamletish1854
vacillatory1854
dilly-dallying1879
thistledown1897
weak-principled1913
not-quite1920
off-again on-again1923
dithery1931
havering1975
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 343/1 He was in a mamering whether he would retourne agayn ouer the sea.
1537 in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. 527 The people in all partes..are very wylde,..at no stay, but in a mamoring, what they may do.
1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue f. 8v God..keepe us from falling away from the truth, or standing in mammering therof.
1609 Bp. W. Barlow Answer Catholike English-man 115 Hee..did protest euen while matters were in a mammering.
1612 R. Carpenter Soules Sentinel 72 The carnall man stands here at a mammering and maruelling how it can bee done.
1639 tr. J. A. Comenius Porta Linguarum Reserata (new ed.) xc. §886 The one goes on forward..without respit, the other staggers (is in a mammering).
1941 E. R. Eddison Fish Dinner vii. 119 Arquez, seeing..Clavius wounded and in a mammering whether to fly or fight: threw another chair.
1947 M. Lowry Let. 13 Aug. (1967) 151 I am all of a doodah. I am in a mammering.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† mammeringadj.
Obsolete. rare.
Hesitating.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]
twiredec888
orrathc1175
twofoldc1175
twifoldc1200
waveringc1315
uncertain1382
suspensec1440
mammeringa1450
flowing?1504
floghtering1521
vacillant1521
in a mammering1532
double-minded1552
unstaid1561
unresolute1570
unresolved?1571
staggeringa1577
frittle1579
irresolute1579
cheverel1583
off and on1583
halting1585
unsettleda1593
unresolving1599
demurring1607
waving1611
suspensive1614
hoveringa1616
startling1619
irresolved1621
hesitating1622
indetermined1628
variousa1643
branling1645
hesitant1647
non-sincere1656
hesitatious1657
humdrum1660
shuttlecock1660
yea-and-nay1672
swaying1688
interpendent1708
undetermined1718
Squadronec1720
hesitatorya1734
volanta1734
shilly-shally1734
dilly-dally1749
niffy-naffy1765
wiggle-waggle1778
undecided1779
undecisive1780
indecisive1787
conflicted1789
hesitative1795
undeciding1802
vacillating1814
yea-nay1827
demurrant1836
willy-nilly1839
shilly-shallying1842
oscillative1852
Hamletish1854
vacillatory1854
dilly-dallying1879
thistledown1897
weak-principled1913
not-quite1920
off-again on-again1923
dithery1931
havering1975
a1450 Castle Perseverance (1969) l. 1917 Þo mamerynge modrys schul haue here mede. But þei ȝeld up to me, Wyth byttyr balys þei schul blede.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 358 This doctrine doth abolish quite the doctrine of the law, of repentaunce,..and commaundeth a mammering doubtfulnesse.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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n.a1425
adj.a1450