Conducendo

Conducendo is the Latin term for the present active gerund of the verb conducere, meaning “to lead” or “to bring together.” The gerund is a verbal noun that denotes the means or manner of an action and, in Latin, is used in ablative or dative functions. Conducendo is the ablative (and dative) singular form of this gerund; the other standard forms include conducendi (genitive) and conducendum (accusative). The present participle of conducere is conducens, meaning “leading.”

In usage, conducendo serves to indicate the means by which an action is performed or to describe the manner of leading. As with other Latin gerunds, it can appear in constructions that express instrumentality or method, often without person or subject of its own. The gerundical form may be found in classical and medieval Latin texts in contexts that require a verbal noun rather than a finite verb.

Across related languages, conducendo appears in Italian as the present participle or gerund of condurre, meaning “conducting” or “driving,” used to describe ongoing action: for example, conducendo una squadra = conducting a team. In other Romance languages, cognate forms exist with similar functions, though spelling and exact usage vary by language.

Etymology traces conducendo to the Latin prefix con- (together) and ducere (to lead). See also gerund, conducere, Latin grammar.