dilatoriness

adjective

tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.

intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision: a dilatory strategy.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin dīlātōrius, equivalent to dīlā-, suppletive stem of differre to postpone (see differ) + -tōrius -tory¹

Related forms

dil·a·to·ri·ly, adverb

dil·a·to·ri·ness, noun

un·dil·a·to·ri·ly, adverb

un·dil·a·to·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To dilatoriness

Relevant Questions

What Is Dilatory?

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Dilatoriness is always a great word to know.

So is slumgullion. Does it mean:

a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

dilatory (ˈdɪlətərɪ, -trɪ)

—*adj*
1.	tending or inclined to delay or waste time
2.	intended or designed to waste time or defer action

[C15: from Late Latin dīlātōrius inclined to delay, from differre to postpone; see differ]

'dilatorily

—*adv*

'dilatoriness

—n

dilatory (ˈdɪlətərɪ, -trɪ)

—*adj*
1.	tending or inclined to delay or waste time
2.	intended or designed to waste time or defer action

[C15: from Late Latin dīlātōrius inclined to delay, from differre to postpone; see differ]

'dilatorily

—*adv*

'dilatoriness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

dilatory

1530s, from L. dilatorius, from dilator "procrastinator," from dilatus, serving as pp. of differe "delay" (see defer).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences

The court believes it was due to the usual dilatoriness that characterized his

practice in this case.

Second, the record evidences a history of dilatoriness.

Diligence was his middle name, but few have made dilatoriness sound so

attractive.

Third, the record also reflects a history of dilatoriness on the part oft he