dilatory — causing delay; intended to waste time or defer action
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: causing delay; intended to waste time or defer action
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdɪləˌtɔːri/
Example Sentences
- His dilatory approach to homework made his parents worry about his grades.
- The lawyer's dilatory questions were clearly designed to waste time until lunch break.
- Stop being so dilatory and just choose a restaurant already!
dilatory
ADJECTIVE[/ˈdɪləˌtɔːri/]
causing delay; intended to waste time or defer action
Deliberately wasting time to delay action
Dilatory speech in the oratory drives crowds to the lavatory!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'dilatorius' meaning 'tending to delay or postpone,' derived from 'dilatus,' the past participle of 'differre' meaning 'to carry apart' or 'to delay.'
Breakdown
dil- (from Latin differre, to delay) + -atory (suffix meaning 'tending to' or 'serving to') = dilatory (tending to cause delay)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His dilatory approach to homework made his parents worry about his grades.”
“The lawyer's dilatory questions were clearly designed to waste time until lunch break.”
“Stop being so dilatory and just choose a restaurant already!”
“The government's dilatory response to the crisis frustrated the public.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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