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dilatory

adj — 3 senses

dilatory

adj

UK /ˈdɪlət(ə)ɹi/ · US /ˈdɪləˌtɔɹi/

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.

1

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

  • a dilatory strategy
  • Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon his adversary with great effect.1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:
2

Slow or tardy.

Derived terms
bronchodilatory, dilatorily, dilatoriness, indilatory, predilatory, undilatory, vasodilatory

dilatory

adj

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.

1

Relating to dilation; dilative.

Derived terms
venodilatory

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.