[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/totter/)

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# totter

verb (totters, tottered, tottering)

«totter» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To totter is to walk or stand unsteadily, as if about to fall over, because you are weak, old or tired. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/totter/#m1)

### In the lessons

in stories, a weak or shocked person totters, moving on shaky legs and almost falling

### Examples

- The old man began to totter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/totter/#x1)
- The baby tottered across the room on wobbly legs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/totter/#x2)
- The tired dancers tottered at the end. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/totter/#x3)
- He tottered down the stairs after the shock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/totter/#x4)

### Note

nothing for maths; it describes a way of moving and gives no number.

## In Jewish tradition

Describes weak, shaking knees or loins, from fasting, fear or drunkenness; it also describes leaders who stumble in judgment.

**Interpretation.** The psalms use it for the suffering of the righteous, and the prophet Isaiah uses it to blame priests and prophets who ought to guide the people but are drunk.

### Examples

- My knees totter through fasting; and my flesh is lean, and hath no fatness. (Writings PSA.109.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/totter/#x1)
- Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to totter. (Writings PSA.69.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/totter/#x2)
- But these also reel through wine, and stagger through strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel through strong drink, they are confused because of wine, they stagger because of strong drink; they reel in vision, they totter in judgment. (Prophets ISA.28.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/totter/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths; it describes a way of moving and gives no number.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «totter» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/totter/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«totter» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/totter.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «totter» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/totter/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«totter» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/totter.html) on Mova free.