Slow

a. [compar. SLOWER; superl. SLOWEST.] [A.-S. slāw, slēaw, O. Sax. slēu, D. sleeuw, slee, L. Ger. slee, slei, O. H. Ger. slēo, slēwo, Up. Ger. schlēw, schlēch, schlō, Prov. Ger. schlēch, Dan. sløv, Sw. slö, Icel. sljór, slīur, slār, slī, sljūfr, allied to Goth. slawan, to be silent. Cf. SLOE and SLOVEN.]

1. Moving a small distance in a given time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.
2. Not happening in a short time; late.

These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast. Milton.

3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue.
4. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding. Prov. xiv. 29.

5. Behind in time; indicating a time later than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.
6. Not advancing, growing, or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.
7. Exciting contempt on account of dullness; heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull. [Colloq.] Dickens. Thackeray.

☞ Slow is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, slow-gaited, slow-paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like. Slow lemur (Zoöl.), a species of monkey, called also the lazy monkey (Lemur tardigradus of Linnæus). It is an animal of the East Indies, of small size, scarcely as large as a cat, and is named from the slowness of its gait. — Slow-match, a contrivance to retain fire for the service of artillery, mines, and fire-works. It usually consists of a cord steeped in a combustible preparation, and consumes very slowly, so that a single yard may often burn several hours. Syn.—Dilatory; late; lingering; tardy; sluggish; dull; inactive. — SLOW, TARDY, DILATORY. Slow is the wider term, denoting either a want of rapid motion or inertness of intellect. Dilatory signifies a proneness to defer, a habit of delaying the performance of what we know must be done. Tardy denotes the habit of being behindhand; as, tardy in making up one's accounts. Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow To guard their shore from an expected foe. Dryden. These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Rome. Shak. When certain to o'ercome, inclined to save, Tardy to vengeance, and with mercy brave. Prior.