cunctor Latin · revision 5764

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ḱenk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkuːŋk.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkuŋk.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cūnctor''' (present infinitive cūnctārī or cūnctārier, perfect active cūnctātus sum); first conjugation, deponent, impersonal in the passive^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a frequentative from an earlier *cuncitā-, from a stem *konk- “to hang”, [[ine-pro|*ḱonk-(e)ie-|t=to hang]], with a shift from “be suspended” to “hesitate”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[hit|𒅗𒀭𒆪|tr=kank-|t=to hang, weigh]], [[sa|शङ्कते|tr=śáṅkate|t=is afraid, doubts]] and [[got|𐌷𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽|tr=hāhan|t=to leave in uncertainty]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, who has the active form ''cūnctō'': “you are loitering here while others are busy inside”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Ennius and Accius also have the active.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to be slow in taking action, to delay or hang back, to linger in a place, to move slowly, as Lucretius' sluggish olive oil, and to hesitate in deciding.^(OLD 2012) Livy says Fabius waged war by delaying, ''cūnctandō'', which made him ''Cūnctātor'' “the Delayer”, and Ennius' line ''ūnus homō nōbīs cūnctandō restituit rem'' “one man restored our state by delaying” became famous.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein says ''cūnctārī'' is delay from deliberation, ''haesitāre'' from lack of resolution and ''cessāre'' from lack of energy.^(Döderlein 1874) [[en|cunctator]] “a delayer” was taken from it in the 1650s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the active ''cūnctō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius praises the man who restored the state by delaying.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius speaks of slow-moving olive oil.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy says Fabius made war by delaying.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1650s – English ''cunctator'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|delay]], hang back.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|linger]], tarry (in a place).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To move slowly, dawdle.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|hesitate]], doubt.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cūnctābundus]]

+ * [[cūnctāmen]]

+ * [[cūnctāns]]

+ * [[cūnctanter]]

+ * [[cūnctātiō]]

+ * [[cūnctātor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[haesitō]]

+ * [[cessō]]

+ * [[en|cunctator]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''cūnctārī'' (to delay from deliberation), ''haesitāre'' (from irresolution), ''cessāre'' (from want of energy) and ''morārī'' (to stop, delay).^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}