cunctor

Latin

Alternative forms

• cunctō
• 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]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈkunk.tor/, [ˈkuŋkt̪or]

Verb

cūnctor (present infinitive cūnctārī or cūnctārier, perfect active cūnctātus 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

Conjugation of cūnctor (first conjugation, deponent)
indicative		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	cūnctor	cūnctāris, cūnctāre	cūnctātur	cūnctāmur	cūnctāminī	cūnctantur
	imperfect	cūnctābar	cūnctābāris, cūnctābāre	cūnctābātur	cūnctābāmur	cūnctābāminī	cūnctābantur
	future	cūnctābor	cūnctāberis, cūnctābere	cūnctābitur	cūnctābimur	cūnctābiminī	cūnctābuntur
	perfect	cūnctātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	cūnctātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	cūnctātus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	cūncter	cūnctēris, cūnctēre	cūnctētur	cūnctēmur	cūnctēminī	cūnctentur
	imperfect	cūnctārer	cūnctārēris, cūnctārēre	cūnctārētur	cūnctārēmur	cūnctārēminī	cūnctārentur
	perfect	cūnctātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	cūnctātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	cūnctāre	—	—	cūnctāminī	—
	future	—	cūnctātor	cūnctātor	—	—	cūnctantor
non-finite forms		active			passive
		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		cūnctārī, cūnctārier1	cūnctātum esse	cūnctātūrum esse	—	—	—
participles		cūnctāns	cūnctātus	cūnctātūrus	—	—	cūnctandus
verbal nouns		gerund				supine
		genitive	dative	accusative	ablative	accusative	ablative
		cūnctandī	cūnctandō	cūnctandum	cūnctandō	cūnctātum	cūnctātū

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

Derived terms

• cunctābundus
• cunctāmen
• cunctāns
• cunctanter
• cunctātiō
• cunctātor
• *praecūnctō

 

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