Staggering

Staggering
Stagger Stag"ger (-g[~e]r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Staggered} (-g[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Staggering}.] [OE. stakeren, Icel. stakra to push, to stagger, fr. staka to punt, push, stagger; cf. OD. staggeren to stagger. Cf. {Stake}, n.] 1. To move to one side and the other, as if about to fall, in standing or walking; not to stand or walk with steadiness; to sway; to reel or totter. [1913 Webster]

Deep was the wound; he staggered with the blow. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. To cease to stand firm; to begin to give way; to fail. ``The enemy staggers.'' --Addison. [1913 Webster]

3. To begin to doubt and waver in purpose; to become less confident or determined; to hesitate. [1913 Webster]

He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. --Rom. iv. 20. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • staggering — [stag′əriŋ] adj. 1. that staggers 2. that causes one to stagger; astonishing; overwhelming; specif., astonishingly great [a staggering sum] staggeringly adv …   English World dictionary

  • staggering — index incredible, ineffable, portentous (eliciting amazement), unbelievable Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • staggering — (adj.) amazing, 1560s, from prp. of STAGGER (Cf. stagger) (v.). Related: Staggeringly …   Etymology dictionary

  • staggering — [adj] overwhelming amazing, astonishing, astounding, distressing, mindblowing, mind boggling, shocking, stunning; concepts 548,571 …   New thesaurus

  • staggering — adj. staggering to + inf. (it was staggering to total up the losses) * * * [ stæg(ə)rɪŋ] staggering to + inf. (it was staggering to total up the losses) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • staggering — adj. VERBS ▪ be, seem ▪ The number of dead is truly staggering. ADVERB ▪ absolutely, quite, simply, truly …   Collocations dictionary

  • staggering — [[t]stæ̱gərɪŋ[/t]] ADJ GRADED Something that is staggering is very surprising. ...a three year contract reputed to be worth a staggering ₤25,000 a week... The results have been quite staggering. Syn: astounding Derived words: staggeringly ADV… …   English dictionary

  • staggering — adjective Date: 1565 so great as to cause one to stagger ; astonishing, overwhelming < a staggering feat > < staggering medical bills > • staggeringly adverb …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • staggering — stag|ger|ing [ˈstægərıŋ] adj extremely great or surprising = ↑amazing ▪ The cost was a staggering $10 million. ▪ The financial impact on the town was staggering. >staggeringly adv ▪ a staggeringly beautiful landscape …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • staggering — stag|ger|ing [ stægərıŋ ] adjective extremely surprising: the staggering success of the books a staggering 63 percent increase ╾ stag|ger|ing|ly adverb: staggeringly effective …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • staggering — UK [ˈstæɡərɪŋ] / US adjective extremely surprising the staggering success of the books a staggering 63 per cent increase Derived word: staggeringly adverb staggeringly effective …   English dictionary

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