zaghaft
Translation
hesitant, timid, tentative, cautious
Examples
Er machte einen zaghaften Versuch.
He made a tentative attempt.
Sie antwortete mit zaghafter Stimme.
She answered in a timid voice.
Grammar Patterns
[subject] is hesitant predicative use The child is very timid.
a hesitant [noun] attributive use She took a hesitant step forward.
Similar Words
Synonyms: hesitant, timid; Antonyms: brave, decisive, bold
Etymology
From Middle High German 'zaghaft', from 'zage' (cowardly) + '-haft' (having the quality of). 'Zagen' means to hesitate.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone who is scared of a 'jagged' (sounds like 'zag') edge and is only 'half' (-haft) willing to touch it.