Dīl'a-to-ry, a.
(50), a. [Lat. dilatōrius, from dilator, a delayer, from differre, dilātum, to defer, to delay; Fr. dilatoire, Pr. dilatōri, It. & Sp. dilatorio.]
Sense 1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given to procrastination; delaying; lingering.
Sense 2. Marked with procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; — said of actions.
Sense 3. Intended to make delay, or to gain time and defer decision or action.
Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon his adversary. Seeley.
Dilatory plea (Law), a plea designed to create delay in the trial of a cause, generally founded upon some matter not connected with the merits of the case.
Synonyms— Slow; delaying; sluggish; inactive; loitering; behindhand; backward; procrastinating. See SLOW.