Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

delay

/dɪˈleɪ/ noun

In Latin: mora Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about delay at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
the delay before the echo of a sound
An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”).

verb

To put off until a later time; to defer. To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
To put off until a later time; to defer.
To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.

verb

To dilute, temper.
To assuage, quench, allay.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word