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 (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision
Definitions
- Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision
Ancestry of “dilatory”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | dilatoire | — |
| 2 | Latin | dilatorius | extending or putting off |
| 3 | Latin | dilator | first-person singular present passive indicative... |
| 4 | Latin | dilatus | scattered; rejected or sentenced |
| 5 | Latin | differō | to carry different ways, spread, scatter, disperse, separate |
| 6 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 7 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 8 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |