Tentative Noun Latin Feel Ten·Ta·Tive Adjective Ten·Ta·Tive·Ly Ten·Ta·Tive·Ness

ten·ta·tive
\\ˈten-tə-tiv\\ adjective1. not fully worked out or developed
    tentative plans
2.

hesitant

,

uncertain

    a tentative smile
• tentative noun
• ten·ta·tive·ly adverb
• ten·ta·tive·ness noun

tentative
  1580s, from M.L. tentativus "trying, testing," from L. tentatus, pp. of tentare "to feel, try," (variant of temptare "to feel, try, test"). Related: Tentatively.

tentative
ten·ta·tive / 5tentEtiv / adjective1. (of an arrangement, agreement, etc. 安排、协议等) not definite or certain because you may want to change it later
   不确定的；不肯定的；暂定的:
   We made a tentative arrangement to meet on Friday.
   我们暂定星期五见面。
   tentative conclusions
   初步结论
2. not behaving or done with confidence
   踌躇的；犹豫不定的；不果断的
   SYN 

hesitant

:
   a tentative greeting
   怯声怯气的问候
   I'm taking the first tentative steps towards fitness.
   我试探性地开始实施健身计划。
• ten·ta·tive·ly adv.
• ten·ta·tive·ness noun [U]

tentative adj.

ten·ta·tive
I. \ˈtentəd.iv, -ətiv\ adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin tentativus, from Latin tentatus (past participle of tentare to feel, attempt, tempt) + -ivus -ive — more at
1.
 a. : of the nature of an experiment or hypothesis : offered, undertaken, or arrived at as a first step :
  < for him all questions are open, all assumptions tentative — Walter Moberly >
 b. : offered or given for the time being : subject to change or withdrawal : not final
  < a tentative program >
  < a tentative acceptance >
  < a tentative refusal >
2. : ,
 < a sort of tentative, almost apologetic smile — R.P.Warren >
 < made his voice tentative — Jean Stafford >
 < his speech is jerky and tentative — Walter Bernstein >
• ten·ta·tive·ly \-ə̇vlē, -li\ adverb
• ten·ta·tive·ness \-ivnə̇s\ noun -es
II. noun
(-s)
: a tentative undertaking, experiment, or offer

 < the few surviving scraps of notes … are crammed with story tentatives — Jay Leyda >