Dilatory

dil;a;to;ry pronunciation: function: adjective etymology: middle english, from anglo-french dilatorie, late latin dilatorius, from latin differre (past participle dilatus) to postpone, differ — more at differ, toleratedate: 15th century 1 : tending or intended to cause delay lt;dilatory tacticsgt;2 : characterized by procrastination : tardy lt;dilatory in paying billsgt;— dil;a;to;ri;ly adverb — dil;a;to;ri;ness noun