ὀκνέω
Etym. ὄκνος
I. "to shrink" from doing, "to scruple, hesitate" to do a thing, c. inf., Il., etc.; ὀκνῶ προδότης καλεῖσθαι "I shrink from" being called, "fear" to be called, Soph.; ὀκνῶ ὀνομάσαι "I shrink from" naming, "hesitate" to name, Dem.; rarely c. acc., ὃν ὀκνεῖτε Soph.; ὀκνεῖν περί τινος Xen.
II. absol. "to shrink, hesitate, hang back", Hdt., Soph., etc.