Hypertext Webster Gateway: "dilatory"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Dilatory \Dil"a*to*ry\, a. [L. dilatorius, fr. dilator a
delayer, fr. dilatus, used as p. p. of differe to defer,
delay: cf. F. dilatoire. See {Dilate}, {Differ}, {Defer}.]
1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at
once; given the procrastination; delaying;
procrastinating; loitering; as, a dilatory servant.
2. Marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; sluggish;
-- said of actions or measures.
Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear
upon hi? adversary. --Motley.
{Dilatory plea} (Law), a plea designed to create delay in the
trial of a cause, generally founded upon some matter not
connected with the merits of the case.
Syn: Slow; delaying; sluggish; inactive; loitering;
behindhand; backward; procrastinating. See {Slow}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
dilatory
adj 1: inclined to waste time and lag behind [syn: {laggard}]
2: wasting time [syn: {dawdling}, {laggard}, {poky}, {pokey}]
3: using cautious slow strategy to wear down opposition;
avoiding direct confrontation; "a fabian policy" [syn: {fabian}]
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