totter
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++tot·ter /ˈtɒtə $ ˈtɑːtər/ verb [intransitive] 1 BALANCE#to walk or move unsteadily from side to side as if you are going to fall over 蹒跚，踉踉跄跄 Lorrimer swayed a little, tottered, and fell. 洛里默身体微微摇晃，蹒跚几步后跌倒在地。2. FAILif a political system or organization totters, it becomes less strong and is likely to stop working 〔政治制度或机构〕摇摇欲坠→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
totter• On the way to school a wino totters.• There was something mad about her refusal to rest, and she felt it as she tottered about getting Clarice dressed.• I saw Slim tottering along and joined him.• Poor Maud can only totter along at this rate.• She tottered, and put her arms out.• Now he gapes at the cup and saucer, tottering at the end of his extended arm.• He tottered drunkenly to his feet and reached inside his jacket.• She tottered into the room in red high-heeled shoes.• The country's welfare system is tottering toward collapse.Origin totter (1200-1300) Perhaps from a Scandinavian languagetot·ter verbChineseSyllable
Corpus from unsteadily walk as to to side side or move
totter
tot‧ter /ˈtɒtə $ ˈtɑːtər/
verb [intransitive]
Lorrimer swayed a little, tottered, and fell.
2. if a political system or organization totters, it becomes less strong and is likely to stop working
tot‧ter /ˈtɒtə $ ˈtɑːtər/
verb [intransitive] Date: 1200-1300
Origin: Perhaps from a Scandinavian language
1. to walk or move unsteadily from side to side as if you are going to fall over:Origin: Perhaps from a Scandinavian language
2. if a political system or organization totters, it becomes less strong and is likely to stop working