totter

Everyday

To totter is to walk or stand unsteadily, as if about to fall over, because you are weak, old or tired. tree →

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 →
• The baby tottered across the room on wobbly legs. tree →
• The tired dancers tottered at the end. tree →
• He tottered down the stairs after the shock. tree →

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 →
• Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to totter. (Writings PSA.69.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• 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 →

Note

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