| ← Older revision | Revision as of 03:26, 1 January 2013 |
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| | ## {{transitive}} To cause to doubt and waver; to make to hesitate; to make less steady or confident; to [[shock]]. | | ## {{transitive}} To cause to doubt and waver; to make to hesitate; to make less steady or confident; to [[shock]]. |
| | ##: ''He will '''stagger''' the committee when he presents his report.'' | | ##: ''He will '''stagger''' the committee when he presents his report.'' |
| − | # Multiple groups doing the same thing, but starting at different, evenly-spaced, times or places | + | # {{transitive}} Multiple groups doing the same thing in a uniform fashion, but starting at different, evenly-spaced, times or places (attested from 1856<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=stagger Etymology] in [[:w:Online Etymology Dictionary|Online Etymology Dictionary]]</ref>). |
| − | ## {{transitive}} To [[arrange]] (a series of parts) on each side of a median line [[alternately]], as the spokes of a wheel or the rivets of a boiler seam. | + | ## To [[arrange]] (a series of parts) on each side of a median line [[alternately]], as the spokes of a wheel or the rivets of a boiler seam (this involves only two groups). |
| − | ## {{transitive}} To arrange [[similar]] objects such that each is ahead or above and to one side of the next. | + | ## To arrange [[similar]] objects such that each is ahead or above and to one side of the next. |
| − | ##: ''We will '''stagger''' the starting positions for the race on the oval track.'' | + | ##: ''We will '''stagger''' the starting positions for the race on the oval track.'' (each runner is his own group) |
| − | ## {{transitive}} To [[schedule]] in [[interval]]s. | + | ## To [[schedule]] in [[interval]]s. |
| − | ##: ''We will '''stagger''' the run so the faster runners can go first, then the joggers.'' | + | ##: ''We will '''stagger''' the run so the faster runners can go first, then the joggers.'' (again, there are only two groups) |
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| | ====Translations==== | | ====Translations==== |
