cunctation

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

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /kʌŋkˈteɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

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cunctation (countable and uncountable, plural cunctations)

1. (obsolete) Delay, hesitation, procrastination.
   • 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Folio Society, published 2007, page 428:

     The swiftest animal conjoined with a heavy body implies that common moral, festina lente; and that celerity should always be contempered with cunctation.

• dilation, hold-up; see also Thesaurus:delay

• cunctatory