stagger
|stag/ger|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈstæɡər/
🇬🇧
/ˈstæɡə/
unsteady movement or shock
Etymology
Etymology Information
'stagger' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'stakeren,' where 'stak-' meant 'to sway or totter.'
Historical Evolution
'stakeren' transformed into the modern English word 'stagger' through gradual phonetic changes.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to sway or totter,' but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'to walk unsteadily' and 'to astonish.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an unsteady walk or movement.
He walked with a stagger after the long hike.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
to walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
He staggered home after the party.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:40