dilatory• Then, during late March and April, they made rather half-hearted and dilatory attempts to get agreement on this basis.• Their unreasonable demands had a dilatory effect on the peace process.• We were alone, with a dilatory guard outside chatting with a secretary.
Origindilatory
(1400-1500)Late Latindilatorius, from Latindilatus, past participle of differre“to delay”; → DIFFER