dilatory

American  

[dil-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈdɪl əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.

2. intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision.

   a dilatory strategy.

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dilatory British  

/ -trɪ, ˈdɪlətərɪ /

adjective

1. tending or inclined to delay or waste time

2. intended or designed to waste time or defer action

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undilatorily
  adverb
• dilatorily
  adverb
• dilatoriness
  noun
• undilatory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilatory

1250–1300; Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin dīlātōrius, equivalent to dīlā-, suppletive stem of differre to postpone ( see differ) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Explanation

Something dilatory creates a delay. Remember when your math teacher asked you to work out a problem on the board and you tried to get her talking about her favorite theorems instead? That was a dilatory tactic. The adjective dilatory comes from the Latin root word dilator, a noun that means "someone who puts off things" or "a procrastinator." If you are always late to appointments, people may accuse you of being dilatory, especially if they think you don't have a good excuse.

Example Sentences

One of Them, who was of a Dilatory Nature, said: "I will not Hurry Myself, for I Doubt Not the Market contains Plenty for all who come."

From The Wit and Humor of America, Volume III. (of X.) by Wilder, Marshall Pinckney

Dilatory, dil′a-tor-i, adj. slow: given to procrastination: loitering: tending to delay.—adv.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Dilatory persons are frequently exposed to surprise and hurry in every thing that belongs to them; the time is come, and they are unprepared.

From The Young Gentleman and Lady's Monitor, and English Teacher's Assistant by Moore, John Hamilton

Dilatory negotiations were in the meantime being conducted by Beverweert in London, and by Downing at the Hague in regard to this and other grievances, but without any approach to a settlement.

From History of Holland by Edmundson, George

Dilatory motions to prevent the consideration of business are comparatively recent expedients, and should not be favored in any case save where absolutely required by some clear rule of established practice.

From Slavery and Four Years of War, Vol. 1-2 A Political History of Slavery in the United States Together With a Narrative of the Campaigns and Battles of the Civil War In Which the Author Took Part: 1861-1865 by Keifer, Joseph Warren