Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dilatory” come from?

Dilatory comes from Old French dilatoire, from Latin dilatorius (tending to delay), derived from dilator (one who delays), from differo (to put off, defer), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root bʰer- (to carry, bear).

dilatory (English): Intentionally delaying , intended to cause delay,...

Definitions

  1. Intentionally delaying , intended to cause delay,...

Ancestry of “dilatory”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchdilatoire—
2Latindilatoriusextending or putting off
3Latindilatorfirst-person singular present passive indicative...
4Latindilatusscattered; rejected or sentenced
5Latindifferō—
6Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
7Latincalceusshoe
8Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
9Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “dilatory”

  • dilatoriness
  • dilatorily
  • bronchodilatory
  • venodilatory
  • vasodilatory
  • indilatory
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →