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   Ten·ta·tive

   /ˈten(t)ədiv/

   

   adjective

   • 1. not certain or fixed; provisional: "a tentative conclusion" Similar provisionalunconfirmedunsettledindefinitepenciled inpreliminaryto be confirmedTBCsubject to confirmationspeculativeconjecturaluntriedunprovenunsubstantiatedexploratoryexperimentaltrialtestpilotrare:provisoryprovisionaryOpposite definite
   • ▪ done without confidence; hesitant: "he eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room" Similar hesitantuncertaincautiousunconfidenttimidhesitatingfalteringshakyunsteadyhaltingwaveringunsuredoubtfuldiffidentinformal:iffyOpposite confident

   Word Origin late 16th century: from medieval Latin tentativus, from tentare, variant of temptare ‘handle, try’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. tentativeness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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