cunctor

Latin

Alternative forms

• cū̆nctō
• contor

Etymology

A denominative in -ō from an unattested adjective, Proto-Italic *konkitos (“hanging”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱenk- (“to hang”). Cognate with English hang.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈkuːnk.tor/, [ˈkuːŋkt̪ɔr] or IPA^(key): /ˈkunk.tor/, [ˈkʊŋkt̪ɔr]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈkunk.tor/, [ˈkuŋkt̪or]

Note: the length of the root vowel is uncertain; length is regular before /nkt/, but this may depend on whether the lengthening happened before the syncope; compare the same uncertainity in the unrelated adjective cū̆nctus.

Verb

cū̆nctor (present infinitive cū̆nctārī or cū̆nctārier, perfect active cū̆nctātus sum); first conjugation, deponent

1. to delay, impede or hold up

   Synonyms: dētineō, supprimō, refrēnō, retineō, moror, obstō, contineō, intersaepiō, arceō, inclūdō

   • c. 4 BCE – 65 CE, Seneca the Younger, De brevitate vitae 9:

     "Quid cunctaris?", inquit, "Quid cessas? Nisi occupas, fugit."

     "Why do you delay," says he, "Why are you idle? Unless you seize the day, it flees."

2. to hesitate, tarry or linger

   Synonyms: retardō, tardō, moror, dubitō, trahō, differō

   Antonyms: ruō, accurrō, currō, festīnō, prōvolō, properō, corripiō, affluō, mātūrō

3. to dawdle

Conjugation

indicative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	cū̆nctor		cū̆nctāris, cū̆nctāre		cū̆nctātur		cū̆nctāmur		cū̆nctāminī		cū̆nctantur
	imperfect	cū̆nctābar		cū̆nctābāris, cū̆nctābāre		cū̆nctābātur		cū̆nctābāmur		cū̆nctābāminī		cū̆nctābantur
	future	cū̆nctābor		cū̆nctāberis, cū̆nctābere		cū̆nctābitur		cū̆nctābimur		cū̆nctābiminī		cū̆nctābuntur
	perfect	cū̆nctātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	cū̆nctātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	cū̆nctātus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	cū̆ncter		cū̆nctēris, cū̆nctēre		cū̆nctētur		cū̆nctēmur		cū̆nctēminī		cū̆nctentur
	imperfect	cū̆nctārer		cū̆nctārēris, cū̆nctārēre		cū̆nctārētur		cū̆nctārēmur		cū̆nctārēminī		cū̆nctārentur
	perfect	cū̆nctātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	cū̆nctātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	—		cū̆nctāre		—		—		cū̆nctāminī		—
	future	—		cū̆nctātor		cū̆nctātor		—		—		cū̆nctantor
non-finite forms		infinitive						participle
		active			passive			active			passive
present		cū̆nctārī, cū̆nctārier1			—			cū̆nctāns			—
future		cū̆nctātūrum esse			—			cū̆nctātūrus			cū̆nctandus
perfect		cū̆nctātum esse			—			cū̆nctātus			—
future perfect		cū̆nctātum fore			—			—			—
perfect potential		cū̆nctātūrum fuisse			—			—			—
verbal nouns		gerund								supine
		genitive		dative		accusative		ablative		accusative		ablative
		cū̆nctandī		cū̆nctandō		cū̆nctandum		cū̆nctandō		cū̆nctātum		cū̆nctātū

   Conjugation of cū̆nctor (first conjugation, deponent)

¹The present passive infinitive in -ier is a rare poetic form which is attested.

Derived terms

• cū̆nctābundus
• cū̆nctāmen
• cū̆nctāns
• cū̆nctanter
• cū̆nctātiō
• cū̆nctātor
• *praecū̆nctō

Verb

cū̆nctor

1. first-person singular present passive indicative of cū̆nctō

References

• “cunctor”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “cunctor”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• cunctor in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• cunctor in Ramminger, Johann (2016 July 16 (last accessed)) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎, pre-publication website, 2005-2016