DILATORY

dilatory. Dilatory, a. slow, slothful, idle, backward, long

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Dil″a‐to‐ry (?), a. [[L. dilatorius, fr. dilator a delayer, fr. dilatus, used as p. p. of differe to defer, delay: cf. F. dilatoire. See Dilate, Differ, Defer.]] 1. 1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given the procrastination; delaying; procrastinating; loitering; as, a dilatory servant.
2. 2. Marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; sluggish; — said of actions or measures.
Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon his adversary. Motley. 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. Syn. — Slow; delaying; sluggish; inactive; loitering; behindhand; backward; procrastinating. See Slow.