- delay
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I. noun
Date: 13th century
1.
a. the act of delaying ; the state of being delayed <get started without delay> b. an instance of being delayed 2. the time during which something is delayed <a delay of 30 minutes> II. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French delaier, from de- + laier to leave, from lai-, present and future stem of lesser, laisser to leave, from Latin laxare to slacken, from laxus loose — more at slack Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. put off, postpone <delay a departure> 2. to stop, detain, or hinder for a time <the mails were delayed by heavy snows> 3. to cause to be slower or to occur more slowly than normal <delay a child's development> intransitive verb to move or act slowly; also to cause delay • delayer noun Synonyms: delay, retard, slow, slacken, detain mean to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress. delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival <bad weather delayed our arrival>. retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping <language barriers retarded their progress>. slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention <medication slowed the patient's heart rate>, slacken an easing up or relaxing of power or effort <on hot days runners slacken their pace>. detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time <unexpected business had detained her>. Synonyms: delay, procrastinate, lag, loiter, dawdle, dally mean to move or act slowly so as to fall behind. delay usually implies a putting off (as a beginning or departure) <we cannot delay any longer>. procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy <procrastinates about making decisions>. lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others <lagging behind in technology>. loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time <loitered at several store windows> <children dawdling on their way home from school>. dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary <stop dallying and get to work>.
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
