Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this Adventure in Etymology we’re looking into the origins of the word procrastination, unless I start procrastinating, as often happens.
Procrastination [pɹəʊˌkɹæs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən] is:
- The act of postponing, delaying or putting off, especially habitually or intentionally.
It comes from Middle French procrastination, from Latin prōcrāstinātiō (procrastination), from prōcrāstinō (to procrastinate), from prō (for, before) and crāstinus (of tomorrow), from crās (tomorrow) [source]
Words from the same roots include craje [ˈkraj(ə)] (tomorrow) in Neapolitan, cras [kras] (tomorrow) in Sardinian, and the obsolete English word crastin (the day after, the morrow) [source].
An antonym of procrastination is precrastination (the completion of a task too quickly or too early for the optimal outcome; the compulsion to act in this way) [source].
If you’re a chronic procrastinator, as I am, you might even perendinate (to procrastinate for a long time, especially two days), from Latin perendinare (to defer until the day after tomorrow) [source].
Incidentally, while procrastination is often seen as negative habit, it can also help you to prioritise aspects of your life that bring joy, according to an article in MedicalNewsToday.
So, procrastinate now! Or maybe later.
You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podchaser, PlayerFM or podtail.
If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.
Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.
I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.
Simon, I meant to respond to your post before now, but I just didn’t get around to it. I would have procrastinated about even more things, but I wasn’t motivated enough. And you know, the whole world belongs to the International Procrastinator’s Convention, but they haven’t turned in their applications yet.
I am sure you have similar observations to offer, when you find the time to reply.
Ho ho! I was going to reply, but I got distracted, and put it off until tomorrow, or the day after.
So could a person who believes in doing something immediately be an anticrastinator? Just wondering.
Hank, Simon answered this in the article:
“An antonym of procrastination is precrastination (the completion of a task too quickly or too early for the optimal outcome; the compulsion to act in this way)”