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dilatory
5 dictionary results for: Dilatory
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
dil·a·to·ry       [dil-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.
2.intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision: a dilatory strategy.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME (< AF) < L dīlātōrius, equiv. to dīlā-, suppletive s. of differre to postpone (see differ) + -tōrius -tory1]

dil·a·to·ri·ly, adverb
dil·a·to·ri·ness, noun
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
dil·a·to·ry       (dĭl'ə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Intended to delay.
  2. Tending to postpone or delay: dilatory in his work habits. See Synonyms at slow.


[Middle English dilatorie, from Latin dīlātōrius, from dīlātor, delayer, from dīlātus, past participle of differre, to delay : dī-, dis-, apart; see dis- + lātus, carried; see telə- in Indo-European roots.]

dil'a·to'ri·ly adv., dil'a·to'ri·ness n.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
dilatory 
1535, from L. dilatorius, from dilator "procrastinator," from dilatus, serving as pp. of differe "delay" (see defer).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
dilatory

adjective
wasting time 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Dilatory

Dil"a*to*ry\, a. [L. dilatorius, fr. dilator a delayer, fr. dilatus, used as p. p. of differe to defer, delay: cf. F. dilatoire. See Dilate, Differ, Defer.]

1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given the procrastination; delaying; procrastinating; loitering; as, a dilatory servant.

2. Marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; sluggish; -- said of actions or measures.

Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon hi? adversary. --Motley.

Dilatory plea (Law), a plea designed to create delay in the trial of a cause, generally founded upon some matter not connected with the merits of the case.

Syn: Slow; delaying; sluggish; inactive; loitering; behindhand; backward; procrastinating. See Slow.

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