retarded
[ri-tahr-did]Usually Offensive.
- characterized by a slowness or limitation in intellectual understanding and awareness, emotional development, academic progress, etc.
- Slang. stupid or foolish.
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- (used with a plural verb) people who are slow or limited in mental development (usually preceded by the): new schools for the retarded.
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Origin of retarded
Synonyms
See more synonyms for retarded on Thesaurus.combackward, disabled, handicapped.
Usage note
In reference to low intellectual ability, the terms retarded, retardation, and mental retardation are now usually perceived as insulting. There are several acceptable alternatives. In general, someone with a mental, physical, or emotional disability may be described as developmentally disabled, or as a person with a developmental disability. If it is specifically a mental disability, the person may be described as cognitively impaired or intellectually (or mentally) disabled. Such a person may be referred to as an individual with a cognitive impairment or a person with an intellectual (or mental) disability. The slang term retard is a term of abuse used especially by children, though much less commonly than in the past. In both of its meanings, retard is perceived as insulting to disabled people. See also cripple.
retard
[ri-tahrd, for 1–3, 5; ree-tahrd for 4]
- to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.
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- to be delayed.
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- a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
- Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.
- a contemptuous term used to refer to a person who is cognitively impaired.
- a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
- Automotive, Machinery. an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so that the spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later in the cycle.
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Compare advance.
Origin of retard
Synonyms
See more synonyms for retard on Thesaurus.com1. obstruct, check.
Antonyms
1. accelerate.
Usage note
See retarded.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
retarded
- underdeveloped, esp mentally and esp having an IQ of 70 to 85See also ESN, mental handicap, subnormal (def. 2)
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retard
- (tr) to delay or slow down (the progress, speed, or development) of (something)
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- US offensive a retarded person
- US offensive a foolish person
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Word Origin
C15: from Old French retarder, from Latin retardāre, from re- + tardāre to make slow, from tardus sluggish; see tardy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for retarded
adj.
1810, "delayed," past participle adjective from retard (v.). In childhood development sense, "mentally slow," attested from 1895 (cf. Italian tardivi).
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retard
v.
late 15c., "make slow or slower," from French retarder "restrain, hold (someone) back, keep (someone from doing something); come to a stop" (13c.) or directly from Latin retardare "make slow, delay, keep back, hinder" (see retardation). Related: Retarded; retarding.
The noun is recorded from 1788 in the sense "retardation, delay;" from 1970 in offensive meaning "retarded person," originally American English, with accent on first syllable. Other words used for "one who is mentally retarded" include retardate (1956), retardee (1971).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper