Retard

v. t. [imp. & p. p. RETARDED; p. pr. & vb. n. RETARDING.] [Fr. retarder, Pr., Sp., & Pg. retardar, It. ritardare, Lat. retardare, from re, again, back, and tardare, to make slow, to delay, from tardus, slow.]

1. To keep delaying; to continue to hinder; to prevent from progress; to render more slow in progress; as, to retard the march of an army; to retard the motion of a ship; — opposed to accelerate.
2. To put off; to render more late; as, to retard the attacks of old age; to retard a rupture between nations.

Syn.—To impede; hinder; obstruct; detain; delay; procrastinate; defer.