What is the Latin word for waiting?

The usual Latin words for “waiting” are ministerium, salūtātiō, officium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“waiting” in Latin

ministeriumministry (office of a minister); employment, ministration; service, duty (attendance of or action by an inferior person salūtātiōa greeting, salutation; a ceremonial visit by a client to his patron officiumduty, service, office; obligation, an obligatory service, visit, or gesture; kindness, favor, courtesy

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

waiting

ministerium (as a servant, clerk; ☞ ministratio occurs only Vitr., 6, 6 [9], 2 = help, assistance): salutatio: officium (a visit of courtesy; the latter, especially as a duty). Daily waiting, assiduitas quotidiana (with the notion of willingness, zeal).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for waiting?: The usual Latin words for “waiting” are ministerium, salūtātiō, officium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.