Word of the Day: PROCRASTINATE
To postpone or put off
procrastinate (verb) - to habitually or deliberately delay doing what needs to be done; to delay, dawdle, or stall [proh-kras-tuh-neyt]
procrastination is the act or practice of putting off important tasks until the last minute or avoiding them entirely, regardless of the consequences
a procrastinator is someone who habitually delays, defers, or postpones tasks until a later time
BREAKDOWN: The word procrastinate has Latin origins but not a definitive root. The Latin procrastinare meaning to put off until tomorrow comes from the common prefix PRO- (forward) and a root CRAS- thought to mean tomorrow. However, the origin of CRAS- is unknown and found in no other modern words.
“Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.” —Charles Stanley
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]