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Delay

//dɪˈleɪ// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
Noun
  1. 1
    A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity. countable, uncountable

    "the delay before the echo of a sound"

  2. 2
    the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time wordnet
  3. 3
    An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay. countable, uncountable

    "The 8-bit sound quality of many early delays did indeed leave a lot to be desired (compare this to the 16-bit digital technology of CDs)"

  4. 4
    time during which some action is awaited wordnet
  5. 5
    Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”). countable, uncountable
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  1. 6
    An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment. countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To put off until a later time; to defer. transitive

    "My lord delayeth his coming."

  2. 2
    To dilute, temper. obsolete
  3. 3
    slow the growth or development of wordnet
  4. 4
    To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder. transitive

    "The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow."

  5. 5
    To assuage, quench, allay. obsolete

    "Those dreadfull flames she also found delayd / And quenched quite like a consumed torch […]."

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  1. 6
    cause to be slowed down or delayed wordnet
  2. 7
    To wait, hesitate, tarry. intransitive

    "Don't delay; this special offer ends at midnight!"

  3. 8
    stop or halt wordnet
  4. 9
    To allay; to temper. obsolete, transitive

    "The watery showers delay the raging wind."

  5. 10
    act later than planned, scheduled, or required wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English delaien, borrowed from Anglo-Norman delaier, Old French deslaier, from des- + Old French laier (“to leave”), a conflation of Old Frankish *lattjan ("to delay, hinder"; from Proto-Germanic *latjaną (“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to leave, leave behind”)), and Old Frankish *laibijan ("to leave"; from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to remain, continue”)). Doublet of dally. Akin to Old English latian (“to delay, hesitate”), Old English latu (“a delay, a hindrance”), Old English lǣfan (“to leave”). More at let (to hinder), late, leave.

Etymology 2

From Middle English delaien, borrowed from Anglo-Norman delaier, Old French deslaier, from des- + Old French laier (“to leave”), a conflation of Old Frankish *lattjan ("to delay, hinder"; from Proto-Germanic *latjaną (“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to leave, leave behind”)), and Old Frankish *laibijan ("to leave"; from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to remain, continue”)). Doublet of dally. Akin to Old English latian (“to delay, hesitate”), Old English latu (“a delay, a hindrance”), Old English lǣfan (“to leave”). More at let (to hinder), late, leave.

Etymology 3

From Middle English delaien, from Old French delaiier, a variant of delaissier.

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