Cunctation

Cunctation (pronounced kuhngk-tey-shuhn)

Lateness; delay; hesitation (archaic).

1575–1585: From the Latin cunctātiōn- (stem of cunctātiō) (delay; tarrying; a hesitation), from cūnctor (linger, hesitate), the construct being cunctāt(us) (past participle of cunctārī (to delay) + -iōn (the noun suffix).  The Latin cunctari (to be slow, hesitate, delay action), is from the primitive Indo-European konk- (to hang), the source also of the Hittite kank- (to hang, weigh), the Sanskrit sankate (is afraid, fears), the Gothic hahan (to leave in uncertainty) The Old English hon (to hang) and the Old Norse hengja (to hang, suspend).  The derived forms, some more useful than others, are include cunctatious, cunctatory, cunctative & cunctator.

The socialist Fabian Society, founded in Britain in 1884 is a classic example of political cunctation (more usually (for a variety of reasons) called gradualism), the name borrowed from Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (Circa 280-203 BC; nicknamed Cunctator (the Delayer)), a cautious Roman tactician who opposed Hannibal in the Second Punic War (201-218 BC).  Facing Hannibal's vastly superior Carthaginian forces, Fabius declined to engage in traditional set-piece, climactic battles and instead adopted a tactic of harassment and attrition, using small, precise strikes on vulnerable enemy outposts and supply lines, gradually wearing down his opponent.  It was a different approach from that typically taken by the Roman military and "Fabius Cunctator" was originally a term of derision but as it became clear it was the only method likely in the circumstances to be successful, it came to be an expression of admiration.  Essentially, although using tactics which had been part of war as long as conflict has existed, it was probably the first time that what is now referred to as guerrilla (and more recently as asymmetric) warfare became a codified part of the military manual.   The Fabians used the name to draw a distinction between their moderate approach and those of violent and revolutionary anarchists and communists.  Unfortunately for historians, the Fabians choose not to call themselves the Cunctative Society, a missed opportunity for the youth wing which instead had to be content with the nickname “young fabs”.  It’s an urban (or perhaps a rural) myth the Country Party in Australia changed its name to National Party because of such concerns.   

The Fabian Society

For the Fabian's coat of arms, a wolf in sheep's clothing was thought too threatening an image for the English, the lethargic but long-lived tortoise a more comforting symbol.

The Fabian Society was formed in 1884 (a year after the death of Karl Marx) as a British socialist organization advocating that the principles of democratic socialism should be achieved through gradual reform rather than revolution.  At times intellectually fashionable, it attracted (sometimes briefly) noted figures from science, literature and letters including George Bernard Shaw, HG Wells, Sydney Olivier, Ramsay MacDonald, Bertrand Russell and Emmeline Pankhurst, its influence on social-democratic politics spread from the British Labour Party around the world although perhaps the most far-reaching institution it spawned was the London School of Economics, founded in 1895.  Following the tactics of Fabius Maximus the Cunctator, the Fabians chose a gradual approach to attempt to realize their political strategy rather than the sudden blast of revolution favored by many other leftist groups.  In the spirit of this philosophy, the society adopted as its logo a tortoise although it did briefly flaunt a wolf in sheep’s clothing for its coat of arms, soon dropped for fear it might frighten the horses.  Ironically, Clement Attlee (later Lord Attlee, 1883–1967; UK prime minister 1945-1951), a Fabian prime-minister once dismissed by his predecessor (and successor) (Winston Churchill, 1875-1965; UK prime-minister 1940-1945 & 1951-1955) as a "sheep in sheep's clothing", turned out to be something of a political wolf, in the difficult post-war years transforming the UK's economy and many aspects of its social arrangements.         

As with many movements in the early days of mass-democracy, the Fabian Society’s platforms and political positions were a mixture of reformist social justice, enlightened progressivism and what seem now at least quasi-fascist views on eugenics and race.  The Fabians sought the abolition of the hereditary aristocracy, a minimum wage, a national health service and, at least among some members, women's emancipation and enfranchisement.  The high-point of their influence in their native land came in the years of the post-war consensus, the so-called 1945 settlement which followed the British Labour Party's landslide victory in the general election of that year.  It was an era which extended from the end of the war until the changes wrought by the Thatcher government during the 1980s and was marked by a high degree of acceptance by both sides of politics of the model of a planned economy with much public ownership.  Interestingly, it was in New Zealand during these years that the Fabian model was implemented to the fullest extent seen in the English-speaking world and, tellingly, there it was unwound by the reformist Labour governments of the 1980s even more brutally than in the UK.  The New Zealand model is of historic interest because, unusually, it combined restricted economic freedom with a classic liberal social model including freedom of speech and political participation, an inversion of that pursued by authoritarian regimes such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Lindsay Lohan and her lawyer in court, Los Angeles, 2011.  

Whatever may have been the political and economic consequences in the UK, it was perhaps during the post colonial years of the late twentieth century that the Fabian’s influence was at its greatest.  Many of the leading political figures in newly independent nations were exposed to Fabian thought, most famously Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964; Indian prime-minister 1950-1964) who designed the structure of India’s economic policy along the lines of Fabian socialism; the so-called "License Raj".  To an extent greater than was ever attempted in the UK, Nehru's Fabian ideas committed India to an economy in which the state either owned, operated or controlled the means of production and distribution, particularly industrial sectors such as steel, telecommunications, transportation, electricity generation, mining and real estate development.  Private activity, much of which was actively discouraged, was regulated by a vast and painfully slow bureaucracy through permits and licenses.  Other nations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East also followed the model to some degree though Singapore, under a competent and pragmatic leadership, soon identified the structural difficulties created and changed course, a realization which took a decade longer fully to register in the UK.

Even if the implications of its early programme were never realized, the Fabian Society remained an influence in left-wing English politics and was involved in the modernization of the Labour Party in the 1990s, although, given what New Labour became, there will be some who consider that an admission of guilt rather than a proud boast.  Now operating essentially as left-wing think-tanks rather than activist collectives, Fabian societies still exist in a number of countries under a variety of names.

The Young Fabs

After being in abeyance because of COVID-19, the ending of social restrictions in England meant the much-missed and long-awaited Young Fabians Boat Party was able again to cast-off in 2021.  Sales of the early-bird (Stg£30) tickets sold-out quickly and the standard (Stg£35) and non-member (Stg£40) tickets were soon all taken.

Prosecco spumante ("pro-spew" to admirers & detractors alike).  The young fabs know how to have a good time.

Profits from the night of drink and dance down the Thames went towards supporting the Young Fabians’ "brilliant activism and policy work", the ticket price including a complimentary glass of Prosecco.  On board, a fully-stocked bar was open all evening (cash sales only) and while the dress code was (of course) relaxed, young fabs were encouraged to dress up "as much as made them feel comfortable" which for a young fab can be a difficult compromise to achieve: too scruffy and one's chances of hooking up with another young fab might be diminished (although Prosecco is said to lower both standards & inhibitions) while too smart might be considered a micro-aggression against the poor or those from ethnic minorities whose sartorial sense differs from Western, middle-class norms.  It's not always easy to be a young fab.  Cast-off was at 19:10 from Westminster Pier (all being advised it was essential to arrive by 18.45 to ensure there was time to board because there were no refunds for cunctators, one practice from capitalism which seems to have been absorbed).  The cruise ended when the boat docked at Westminster Pier at 23.30 but the partying was said to continue in the city at "a myriad of establishments".

Young Fab Ms Victoria Parrett, Events Officer & Treasurer of the Young Fabians who may be contacted on Twitter @VictoriaParrett or at victoria.parrett@youngfabians.org.uk.

Kunt & Cunt

Kunt (pronounced kuhnt)

(1) In English, a deliberate misspelling of the offensive slang “cunt”, used sometimes in an attempt to avoid sanction or censorship by text-based filters.  

(2) A Turkish surname (meaning “strong or durable” in ancient Turkish and in Ottoman Turkish (as Kunter), “kind man”) with roots in the Germanic.

Pre 900: Kunt & Kunter are surnames in both Turkish and German surname with evidence of historic use as a given name.  In ancient Turkish, Kunt means “strong or durable”, derived from the robustness of the large ropes used to tie the ships to the docks (the appended "er" meaning "soldier" or "man".  In Ottoman Turkish, it meant "kind man".

Kunt is ultimately from the Proto-Germanic kuntǭ, either through the Old High German cunta or a borrowing from the Middle High German kunte, the Old Norse kunta or another (northern) Germanic language and it had a relatively rare application as a descriptor for female genitalia.  All forms ultimately derive from the from the Proto-Germanic kuntǭ.  In Dutch, kunt was the second-person singular present indicative of kunnen and an archaic plural imperative of kunnen.  The Dutch kunnen (to be possible; to be able to; to be available) was from the Middle Dutch connen, cunnen, from the Old Dutch cunnan, from the Proto-West Germanic kunnan, from the Proto-Germanic kunnaną, from the primitive Indo-European ǵneh.

International distribution of the surname Kunt.

Saint Knut's Day (Knut in English also pronounced kuhnt) an alternative form of the historical name Cnut, from the Old Norse Knútr, cognate with Danish Knud and the English Canute) is a festival celebrated in Sweden and Finland on 13 January and interestingly is not marked in Denmark even though it's named after Prince Canute Lavard of Denmark and later associated also with his uncle, Canute the Saint, patron saint of Denmark.  Canute Lavard (Knut Levard in Swedish) was a Danish duke assassinated by his cousin and rival Magnus Nilsson on 7 January 1131, the murderer's intent the usurpation of the Danish throne.  From this act ensued a civil war which led to Knut being declared a saint, 7 January named as Knut's Day.  Because this day was so close to the Feast of the Epiphany (thirteenth day of Christmas), in 1680 as one of a number of reforms, Knut's Day was moved to 13 January, becoming tjugondag Knut (twentieth day of Knut/Christmas).  Some of the rituals are also observed in Finland but in a charming twist, the tradition there includes the "evil knut".

In polite circles, there’s usually such disapprobation attached to the word “cunt” that there’s temptation to find ways to slip it in yet remain unscathed.  The word cunctation (a delay) is one route but sometimes a gift comes in the mail.  The UK’s ambassadors to the United States come and go and tend to be remembered only if already famous for something else (Lord Halifax 1881-1959; UK ambassador to the US 1940-1946), associated with notable events (Sir Roger Makins (later Lord Sherfield) 1904-1996; UK ambassador to the US 1940-1946) or notably eccentric (Sir Archibald Clark Kerr (later Lord Inverchapel) 1882-1951; UK Ambassador to the USSR 1942-1946 & the US 1946-1948).  Memories however fade and Clark Kerr is now best remembered for a note he sent in 1943, while ambassador in gloomy wartime Moscow, to Lord Pembroke (Reginald Herbert; 1880–1960), then working in the Foreign Office in London.  Serendipitously, in 1978 the note was stumbled upon in the Foreign Office’s archives during research into an unrelated matter. 

In these dark days man tends to look for little shafts of light that spill from Heaven. My days are probably darker than yours, and I need, my God I do, all the light I can get. But I am a decent fellow, and I do not want to be mean and selfish about what little brightness is shed upon me from time to time. So I propose to share with you a tiny flash that has illuminated my sombre life and tell you that God has given me a new Turkish colleague whose card tells me that he is called Mustapha Kunt.

We all feel like that, Reggie, now and then, especially when spring is upon us, but few of us would care to put it on our cards. It takes a Turk to do that.

Cunt (pronounced kuhnt)

(1) Vulgar (thought most disparaging and offensive) slang for the vulva or vagina.

(2) A contemptuous term used to refer to a person (although in some cultures it can be applied neutrally or as a term or endearment (usually with an adjectival modifier (eg “a good cunt”) and used in the same way as “bastard”.

(3) A term of disapproval applied to any task or object (especially machinery) which is proving tiresome or difficult to fix, replace, remove etc; an unpleasant or difficult experience or incident.

(4) Sexual intercourse with a woman (archaic, long replaced by “fuck” and a myriad of others).

1275–1325: from the Middle English cunte, conte, counte, queinte, queynt & queynte, from the Old English cunte (female genitalia), from the Proto-Germanic kuntǭ & kunþaz.  It was cognate with the Old Norse kunta, the West Frisian kunte, the Middle Dutch conte (from whence the Dutch kont (butt)), the dialectal Swedish kunta, the dialectal Danish kunte and the Icelandic kunta.  Despite the apparently obvious link with the Latin cunnus (female pudenda (also, vulgarly, "a woman")), etymologists maintain the link has never been established.   

Cunnus is of uncertain etymology but the speculative links include the primitive Indo-European gen & gwen (woman) (most discount any relationship with the primitive Indo-European root geu- (hollow place)) and the primitive Indo-European kutnos (cover), cognate with cutis (skin), a metaphor identical to the one connecting the Latin vulva and English hull, albeit from a different Indo-European root.  Also speculative is a relationship to the Latin cuneus (wedge) or the primitive European (s)ker- (to cut), an evolution from the original sense of “gash” or “slit”.  It does seem counter intuitive there’s no link with the Latin cunnus but etymologists insist there’s simply no evidence and the more likely connection is with the primitive Indo-European root kut (bag; scrotum (and metaphorically also “female pudenda”)), source also of the Ancient Greek kysthos (vagina; buttocks; pouch, small bag (although there is the suggestion this is pre-Greek)), the Lithuanian kutys (money bag) and the Old High German hodo (testicles).

In 2010 nine of the reporters graduating from the University of Utah each wrote a final column for the student newspaper, the Daily Utah Chronicle.  The student newspaper is a practical training tool in the journalism course and one of the techniques learned is the use of the drop-cap (dropped capital), a large (usually two or more lines) capital letter used as a decorative element at the beginning of a paragraph or section.  Noting this, the nine choose to put four columns in vertical alignment on one page, five on another.  The reaction was probably as valuable a lesson in journalism as any the students had learned in all their years of study.  Previously little noted beyond the campus, once the columns appeared, the paper gained world-wide publicity.

The first known instance in English appears to be a compound form, an Oxford street name “Gropecuntlane”, documented circa 1230 (and attested through the late fourteenth century) and presumed by historians and etymologists (who don’t always agree) to indicate the place was a haunt of prostitutes, a hint “cunt” was then thought of as merely descriptive of women in a sexual context without the anatomical specificity it would later gain, something that would seem to have happened by circa 1400 because in that era it appears descriptively in medical texts.  Tying the word explicitly to female genitalia influenced general use; it was avoided in public speech (certainly in the polite circles for which records exist although this does not guarantee the pattern was replicated throughout society) by the fifteenth century and was assuredly thought obscene by the seventeenth.  Further credence to this devolution to the disreputable is that Geoffrey Chaucer (circa 1344-1400), when in the late fourteenth century writing the Canterbury Tales, used queynte without a hint he was searching for any sense of the vulgar yet within two centuries it was cited as an example of why the work was a byword for the risqué.  The word with the Middle English spelling cunte is in the early fourteenth century poem the Proverbs of Hendyng, featured in a line offering wise advice to young maidens: Ȝeue þi cunte to cunnig and craue affetir wedding (Give your cunt wisely and make (your) demands after the wedding.)

Unsurprisingly, the “promotional merchandise” associated with NTUnofficial's “See You in the Northern Territory” campaign did not receive the imprimatur of any level or organ of government.  The range includes wall-posters, bumper stickers, T-shirts and stubbie holders.

Long before it became the “c-word”, there was "female intercrural foramen" or, as some eighteenth century writers would have it “the monosyllable", surely the most exclusively exclusionary euphemism ever.  In less permissive times it troubled many authors and journalists and some, before “c-word” became fashionable, replaced it with something thought less strident (an there’s quite a list, men never having displayed any reticence or imaginative deficit in finding ways to disparage women or take linguistic ownership of their body parts) while other would bowdlerize, usually with variations of c**t, c*nt etc.  Lexicographers seem usually to have included an entry in their fullest or most academic dictionaries, usually with some stress on the word’s almost respectable origins, but it was often omitted from abbreviated editions, missing even from the 1933 edition of the Shorter Oxford Dictionary.  One publication listed 552 synonyms from English slang and literature and a further half-dozen pages of the better-known from French, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, the poetic expression of the Dutch especially putting the dour English to shame with liefdesgrot (cave of love) & vleesroos (rose of flesh).  In English-speaking countries, "cunt" is now the most offensive swear word and, although the taboo which once proscribed its use in all but among the most linguistically consensual male society has been relaxed, it remains perhaps the last true swear word and only racial (and increasingly gender-based) slurs now attract more disapprobation.  That said, evidence does suggest in certain sub-cultures, use seems at times to be both frequent and obligatory.

One sub-culture in which it's suspected the word is frequently uttered but seldom reported, is the dirty business of politics, conducted in what are still sometimes called "smoke filled rooms", a phrase once not figurative.  Bob Hawke (1929–2019; prime minister of Australia 1983-1991), not long in parliament but more ambitious than most, in 1982 enlisted the support of the Labor Party's then powerful New South Wales (NSW) right-wing "machine" to undermine the ALP's leader, Bill Hayden (b 1933; Leader of the Opposition 1977-1983) whom he famously described as "a lying cunt with a limited future."  It took a couple of goes but in 1983, Hawke prevailed.  Hayden was well acquainted with both the tactics of the NSW right and the place of lies in politics.  Once, when pointing out some inconsistency to the right's Graham Richardson (b 1949; ALP general secretary (NSW) 1976-1983), he was told "...yes but we were lying to you then, today we're telling the truth."

Rita Ora (b 1990) at the House of Holland show, London Fashion Week, September 2014.  Ms Ora combined the t-shirt with an Aztec-style & leopard-print pencil skirt with a box jacket.  Hand-distressed and screen printed in Los Angeles, the Enfants Riches Déprimés t-shirt’s list price was US$225.

Second-wave feminist authors didn’t really add anything not already known, noting it was probably the worst of the many disparaging terms attached to women and although the function of words alluding to women’s conduct (eg bitch, slut) were structurally different from those referencing their anatomy (eg cunt, tits), both were devices casually to dehumanize women by reducing them to stereotypes or body-parts, cunt the most offensive because of the reductionism; the idea that to men the rest of a woman is but a life support-system for the cunt and the sole worthwhile purpose for that, male gratification.  However, despite some activist and academic prodding, the idea that women might reclaim the word never caught the imagination and morphed into a mass-movement in the way the “slut-walks” sought to diminish the power the weaponization of the word “slut” afforded men.  That apparent reticence does suggest that despite recent linguistic permissiveness, “cunt” retains the power to repel most, even if for a good cause as it were.  Thus it endures alone in what used to be a well-populated niche and is now the English language’s last true obscenity and those who use it need to remember the impact relies on rarity, an essential part of it sounding truly obscene.  Just as Joseph Heller (1923–1999) got the most from “fuck” by using it but once in Catch-22’s (1961) 450-odd pages, “cunt” should be English’s nuclear option and if it’s any consolation to women, when used by them, “cunt” can sound its most obscene.

In the matter of Jeremy Hunt MP.

The surname “Hunt” is one which can be mispronounced.  Because of the operation of linguistic assimilation, the chance of mistake heightened if the affectionate diminutive of the given name is used when speaking of a Michael Hunt and script-writers have here and there been tempted.  In the case of a politician like the Conservative Jeremy Hunt (b 1966; UK Chancellor of the Exchequer since 2022), it may be that sometimes the “mistake” is deliberately made as a “coded” political point.  One politician with a name with such possibilities decided to avoid inter-generational transfer of the problem.  UK Labour’s Ed Balls (b 1967) in 2011 revealed his children took his wife’s surname, so to “spare them the bullying that scarred his own childhood.”