Reluctant (-tant), a.
Etymology: [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.
Shades of meaning
Reluctant (L. re, back, and lucto, strive, struggle) signifies struggling against what one is urged or impelled to do, or is actually doing; averse (L. a, from, and verto, turn) signifies turned away as with dislike or repugnance; loath (AS. lath, evil, hateful) signifies having a repugnance, disgust, or loathing for, tho the adjective loath is not so strong as the verb loathe. A dunce is always averse to study; a good student is disinclined to it when a fine morning tempts him out; he is indisposed to it in some hour of weariness. A man may be slow or backward in entering upon that to which he is by no means averse. A man is loath to believe evil of his friend, reluctant to speak of it, absolutely unwilling to use it to his injury. A legislator may be opposed to a certain measure, while not averse to what it aims to accomplish. Compare antipathy.