cunctation

English

WOTD – 2 February 2009

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /kʌŋkˈteɪʃən/
  • (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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