dilatory

English

Etymology

From Middle English dilatorie, from Old French dilatoire, from Latin dīlātōrius (“extending or putting off (time)”), from dīlātor, from differō. Not etymologically related to delay.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪlət(ə)ɹi/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

  • (rarely) IPA^(key): /daɪˈleɪt(ə)ɹi/

Adjective

dilatory (not comparable)

1. Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision.

   a "dilatory" strategy

   • 1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:

     Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon his adversary with great effect.

2. Slow or tardy.

Derived terms

• dilatorily
• dilatoriness
• indilatory

Translations

intentionally delaying

• Bulgarian: отлагащ (bg) (otlagašt)
• French: dilatoire (fr)
• German: aufschiebend (de), dilatorisch (de), verspätet (de) (answer)
• Irish: leadránach, ^{(please verify)} adhastrach
• Russian: откладывающий (ru) (otkladyvajuščij), оттягивающий (ru) (ottjagivajuščij), выжидательный (ru) (vyžidatelʹnyj)
• Swedish: förhalande (sv)
• Telugu: దీర్ఘసూత్రత (te) (dīrghasūtrata)
• Turkish: erteleyici, geciktirici, oyalayıcı (tr)

slow or tardy

• Bulgarian: бавен (bg) (baven), муден (bg) (muden)
• German: langsam (de), zögernd (de)
• Maori: autō, tume, hāmure, māngaingai
• Russian: медлительный (ru) (medlitelʹnyj), нерасторопный (ru) (nerastoropnyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: deireannach
• Swedish: slö (sv)
• Telugu: జాగుచేసే (te) (jāgucēsē)
• Turkish: ağırdan alan, üşengeç (tr), yavaş (tr)

Adjective

dilatory (not comparable)

1. Relating to dilation; dilative.

Derived terms

• venodilatory

Anagrams

• adroitly, idolatry