nuncupate

transitive verb

nun·​cu·​pate
ˈnəŋkyəˌpāt
-ed/-ing/-s
1
obsolete
a
: to inscribe to by way of compliment : dedicate
nuncupating my litany to your ladyshipJohn Bastwick
b
: to utter solemnly : pronounce
they do here … nuncupate this deliberate vowEdmund Burke
2
: to declare (a will) publicly : proclaim
how doth that will appear … in whose presence did he nuncupate itIsaac Barrow

Word History

Etymology

Latin nuncupatus, past participle of nuncupare to name, declare, dedicate, contraction of nomen capere, from nomen name + capere to take

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near nuncupate

Cite this Entry

“Nuncupate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuncupate. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!