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dil·a·to·ry

(dĭlə-tôr′ē)

adj.

1. Causing or intended to cause delay: dilatory tactics in the legislature.

2. Characterized by or given to delay or slowness: dilatory in his work habits. See Synonyms at slow.

[Middle English dilatorie, from Latin dīlātōrius, from dīlātor, delayer, from dīlātus, past participle of differre, to delay : dī-, dis-, apart; see DIS- + lātus, carried; see telə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

dil′a·tori·ly adv.

dila·to′ri·ness n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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