DILATORINESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dilatoriness mean? 

• DILATORINESS (noun)
  The noun DILATORINESS has 1 sense:

1. slowness as a consequence of not getting around to it

  Familiarity information: DILATORINESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DILATORINESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Slowness as a consequence of not getting around to it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

dilatoriness; procrastination

Hypernyms ("dilatoriness" is a kind of...):

deliberateness; deliberation; slowness; unhurriedness (a rate demonstrating an absence of haste or hurry)

 Context examples 

The winter, however, was spent cheerfully; and although the spring was uncommonly late, when it came its beauty compensated for its dilatoriness.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

With an income quite sufficient to their wants thus secured to them, they had nothing to wait for after Edward was in possession of the living, but the readiness of the house, to which Colonel Brandon, with an eager desire for the accommodation of Elinor, was making considerable improvements; and after waiting some time for their completion, after experiencing, as usual, a thousand disappointments and delays from the unaccountable dilatoriness of the workmen, Elinor, as usual, broke through the first positive resolution of not marrying till every thing was ready, and the ceremony took place in Barton church early in the autumn.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)