Hypertext Webster Gateway: "reluctant"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Reluctant \Re*luc"tant\ (-tant), a. [L. reluctans, -antis, p.
pr. of reluctari. See {Reluct}.]
1. Striving against; opposed in desire; unwilling;
disinclined; loth.
Reluctant, but in vain. --Milton.
Reluctant now I touched the trembling string.
--Tickell.
2. Proceeding from an unwilling mind; granted with
reluctance; as, reluctant obedience. --Mitford.
Syn: Averse; unwilling; loth; disinclined; repugnant;
backward; coy. See {Averse}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
reluctant
adj 1: unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom; "a
reluctant smile"; "loath to admit a mistake";
"unwilling to face facts" [syn: {loath}, {loth}]
2: unwilling to become involved; "they were usually reluctant
to socialize"; "reluctant to help"
3: not eager; "foreigners stubbornly uneager to accept our
ways"; "fresh from college and uneager for the moment to
marry him"; "reluctant to help"
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