资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Falter \Fal"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Faltered}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Faltering}.] [OE. falteren, faltren, prob. from fault.
   See {Fault}, v. & n.]
   1. To hesitate; to speak brokenly or weakly; to stammer; as,
      his tongue falters.

            With faltering speech and visage incomposed.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. To tremble; to totter; to be unsteady. ``He found his legs
      falter.'' --Wiseman.

   3. To hesitate in purpose or action.

            Ere her native king Shall falter under foul
            rebellion's arms.                     --Shak.

   4. To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; -- said
      of the mind or of thought.

            Here indeed the power of disinct conception of space
            and distance falters.                 --I. Taylor.