dilatory

English

Etymology

From Old French dilatoire , from Latin dilatorius (“extending or putting off (time)”), from dilator, from differo. Not etymologically related to delay.

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

dilatory (not comparable)

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

   a dilatory strategy

   • (Can we date this quote by Motley and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)

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

2. Slow or tardy.

Derived terms

• dilatorily
• dilatoriness
• indilatory
• venodilatory

Translations

intentionally delaying

• Bulgarian: отлагащ (bg) (otlagašt)
• French: dilatoire (fr)
• German: aufschiebend (de), dilatorisch (de), verspätet (de) (answer)
• Irish: leadránach, ^{(please verify)} adhastrach
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• 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)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Scottish Gaelic: deireannach
• Swedish: slö (sv)
• Telugu: జాగుచేసే (te) (jāgucēsē)
• Turkish: ağırdan alan, üşengeç (tr), yavaş (tr)

Anagrams

• adroitly, idolatry