cunctation

English
WOTD – 2 February 2009

Etymology

From Latin cūnctātiō (“a delaying, tarrying”), from cūnctor (“linger, hesitate”).

Pronunciation
  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /kʌŋkˈteɪʃən/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

cunctation (countable and uncountable, plural cunctations)

  1. (obsolete) Delay, hesitation, procrastination.
    • 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Folio Society 2007, p. 428:
      celerity should always be contempered with cunctation.

Derived terms

Translations
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