dilatory in English
- dilatory⇄dilatory, adjective.
1. tending to delay; not prompt.
Ex. People who are dilatory in paying their bills are poor customers.
(SYN) tardy.
2. causing delay.
Ex. The carpenter's dilatory work habits held up completion of the b
dilatory in Hindi हिन्दी
dilatory in Sindhi سنڌي
Dilatory
Part of Speech
Adjective
Pronunciation
/ˈdɪl.ə.tɔːr.i/ (American English), /ˈdɪl.ə.tər.i/ (British English)
Definitions
- Tending to delay or procrastinate; slow in acting.
- Intended to cause delay, especially in legal or bureaucratic contexts.
Usage Examples
- The government’s dilatory response to the crisis led to widespread criticism.
- She had a reputation for being dilatory in completing her assignments.
- The lawyer used dilatory tactics to prolong the trial.
Etymology
From Latin dilatorius ("delaying"), derived from dilatare ("to spread, delay").
Synonyms
- Slow
- Procrastinating
- Sluggish
- Tardy
- Hesitant
Antonyms
- Prompt
- Swift
- Efficient
- Expeditious
- Decisive
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| French | retardataire | /ʁə.taʁ.da.tɛʁ/ |
| Spanish | tardío | /tarˈdi.o/ |
| German | zögerlich | /ˈtsøːɡɐ.lɪç/ |
| Hindi | ढीला | /ḍhīlā/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 拖延的 | /tuō yán de/ |
| Russian | медлительный | /mʲɪdˈlʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/ |
| Japanese | 遅い | /osoi/ |
| Arabic | بطيء | /baṭīʾ/ |
| Portuguese | demorado | /de.moˈɾa.du/ |
| Korean | 지연되는 | /ji-yeon-doeneun/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
American English: /ˈdɪl.ə.tɔːr.i/
British English: /ˈdɪl.ə.tər.i/
Australian English: /ˈdɪl.ə.tɔː.rɪ/
Historical Usage
The term "dilatory" has been in use since the late 15th century, often in legal and bureaucratic contexts to describe intentional delays.
Cultural Nuances
"Dilatory" is commonly used in formal and critical contexts, especially in describing political and administrative inefficiencies.
More Information
Legal and Bureaucratic Usage: The term is frequently found in legal discourse, referring to tactics used to delay proceedings.
Psychological Aspect: In behavioral studies, dilatory tendencies are associated with procrastination and avoidance.
Modern Relevance: In business and governance, being described as "dilatory" is often a criticism of inefficiency and lack of prompt action.