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delay
de·lay / diˈlā/ • v. [tr.] make (someone or something) late or slow: the train was delayed. ∎ [intr.] be late or slow; loiter: time being of the essence, they delayed no longer. ∎ postpone or defer (an action). • n. a period of time by which something is late or postponed. ∎ the action of delaying or being delayed: I set off without delay. DERIVATIVES: de·lay·er n. |
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"delay." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "delay." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-delay.html "delay." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-delay.html |
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delay
delay put off till later XIII; impede the progress of XIV. — OF. delayer, var. of deslaier, presumably f. des- DIS- + laier leave (of unkn. orig.).
So delay sb. XIII. — (O)F. délai, f. the vb. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "delay." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "delay." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-delay.html T. F. HOAD. "delay." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-delay.html |
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