Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

DALLY

 - 3 dictionary results

dal⋅ly

  [dal-ee] verb, -lied, -ly⋅ing.
Use DALLY in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to waste time; loiter; delay.
2. to act playfully, esp. in an amorous or flirtatious way.
3. to play mockingly; trifle: to dally with danger.
–verb (used with object)
4. to waste (time) (usually fol. by away).
Origin:
1250–1300; ME dalien < AF dalier to chat, of uncert. orig.

Related forms:
dal⋅li⋅er, noun
dal⋅ly⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. See loiter. 2. flirt, tease, trifle. 3. toy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To DALLY
dal·ly   (dāl'ē)   
v.   dal·lied, dal·ly·ing, dal·lies

v.   intr.

  1. To play amorously; flirt: "Sylvester dallied about Lena until he began to make mistakes in his work" (Willa Cather). See Synonyms at flirt.

  2. To trifle; toy.

  3. To waste time; dawdle.

v.   tr.
To waste (time).

[Middle English dalien, from Old French dalier.]
dal'li·er n., dal'ly·ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

dally 
c.1300, possibly from Anglo-Fr. dalier "to amuse oneself," of uncertain origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see DALLY on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way