Dilatory

Adjective

Definition: Tending to delay or procrastinate; slow to act.

Synonyms: Procrastinating, Delaying, Slow

Antonyms: Prompt, Quick, Punctual

Examples:

The dilatory employee always waits until the last minute to complete tasks.
His dilatory nature led to missed deadlines and frustrated colleagues.

Mnemonics:

Think of "dilly-dallying" or "delaying" to associate with dilatory.

Etymology:

Origin:

The word "dilatory" comes from the Latin word "dilatorius," which means "tending to delay." It is derived from the verb "dilatus," which means "to delay" or "to put off."

Historical Usage:

"Dilatory" has been used in English since the 15th century to describe something or someone that is slow or prone to delay.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"On the dilatory side"

Explanation:

This phrase implies that someone or something tends to be slow or take longer than expected.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "dilatory" with "dilute" or "dilate."

Explanation:

While these words may sound similar, they have different meanings. "Dilatory" specifically refers to delaying or procrastinating, while "dilute" means to make something weaker or less concentrated, and "dilate" means to expand or enlarge.