1. (v. i.) To separate combatants by intervening.

2. (v. i.) To contend, contest, or altercate, esp. in a pertinacious manner on insufficient grounds.

3. (v. i.) To play fast and loose; to pass from one side to the other; to trim.

4. (v. t.) To separate, as combatants; hence, to quiet, to appease, as disputants.

5. (v. t.) To intervene in; to stop, or put an end to, by intervening; hence, to arbitrate.

6. (v. t. & i.) A shallow rapid in a river; also, the current below a waterfall.

abrupt arduous back down balance balk blench boggle contend contend for debate deliberate demur die hard falter fear fight for fight shy of flinch gag hang back hang off have qualms hem and haw hesitate hold off hold out hover hum and haw jib kick make bones about not budge object pause persevere ponder precipitate precipitous protest pull back quail recoil retreat scruple sheer shilly-shally shrink shy shy at sideling stall stand out stand pat stick stick at stickle for stipulate for stop to consider straddle the fence strain strain at strive for struggle for stumble take no denial think twice about vie for waver wince withdraw yield