delay

Meanings

Noun

• A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
• An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
• Synonym of promise
• An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.

Verb

• To put off until a later time; to defer.
• To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time.
• To allay; to temper.
• To dilute, temper.
• To assuage, quench, allay.

Origin

• Akin to Old English latian, Old English latu, Old English lǣfan. More at let (to hinder), late, leave.
• From Middle English delaien, from Old French delaiier, a variant of delaissier.