1. To be slow or late about doing something that should be done: James told his son to stop cunctating and to do his homework so he could go to bed on time.

Jerry was not cunctating the celebration of his wife's birthday because he gave her a beautiful diamond ring and took her out for a special meal on the appropriate day.

2. Etymology: from Latin cunctari, "to delay, to defer".

The following cartoon provides an example of what cunctate means.

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