arrière-pensée
noun
ar·ri·ère-pen·sée ˌa-rē-ər-päⁿ-ˈsā 
: mental reservation
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French, "ulterior motive, mental reservation," from arrièrre "back, rear" (going back to Old French arriere, adverb, "back, behind") + pensée "thought" — more at arrear, pansy
First Known Use
1617, in the meaning defined above
arrière-pensée
noun
as in second thought
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- second thought
- wavering
- vacillation
- faltering
- indecision
- hesitation
- wobbling
- delay
- retreat
- pause
- waiting
- reconsideration
- procrastination
- irresolution
- fence-sitting
- hesitancy
- hesitance
- wabbling
- misgiving
- consideration
- uncertainty
- shilly-shallying
- shilly-shally
- reservation
- doubt
- indetermination
- debate
- incertitude
- hawing
- indecisiveness
- deliberation
- uncertainness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- determination
- resolution
- certainty
- confidence
- certitude
- readiness
- firmness
- alacrity
- decisiveness
- resoluteness
- eagerness
- sureness