retardn.
/ˈriːtɑːd/, U.S. /ˈritɑrd/ 1.
a. The fact of being slowed down or delayed with respect to action, progress, or development; lateness, slowness; (also) a delay or slowing down.
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the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > [noun]
longingeOE
bideOE
abodec1225
bodea1300
demura1300
dwella1300
litinga1300
delayc1300
delayingc1300
demurrancec1300
but honec1325
without ensoignec1325
abidec1330
dretchingc1330
dwellingc1330
essoinc1330
tarrying1340
litea1350
delaymenta1393
respitea1393
oversettinga1398
delayancea1400
delitea1400
lingeringa1400
stounding?a1400
sunyiea1400
targea1400
train?a1400
deferring14..
dilation14..
dayc1405
prolongingc1425
spacec1430
adjourningc1436
retardationc1437
prolongation?a1439
training1440
adjournment1445
sleuthingc1450
tarry1451
tarriance1460
prorogation1476
oversetc1485
tarriage1488
debaid1489
supersedement1492
superseding1494
off-putting1496
postponing1496
tract1503
dilating1509
sparinga1513
hafting1519
sufferance1523
tracking1524
sticking1525
stay1530
pause1532
protraction1535
tracting1535
protract of time1536
protracting1540
postposition1546
staying1546
procrastination1548
difference1559
surceasing1560
tardation1568
detract1570
detracting1572
tarryment1575
rejourning1578
detraction1579
longness1579
rejournment1579
holding1581
reprieving1583
cunctation1585
retarding1585
retardance1586
temporizing1587
by and by1591
suspensea1592
procrastinatinga1594
tardance1595
linger1597
forslacking1600
morrowing1602
recess1603
deferment1612
attendance1614
put-off1623
adjournal1627
fristing1637
hanging-up1638
retardment1640
dilatoriness1642
suspension1645
stickagea1647
tardidation1647
transtemporation1651
demurragea1656
prolatation1656
prolation1656
moration1658
perendination1658
offput1730
retardure1751
postponement1757
retard1781
traverse1799
tarrowing1832
mañana1845
temporization1888
procrastinativeness1893
deferral1895
traa dy liooar1897
stalling1927
heel-tapping1949
off-put1970
1781 B. Franklin Let. 26 Nov. in Papers (2001) XXXVI. 115 Without the least Retard by cross Accidents of Wind or Weather.
1788 W. Willink et al. Let. 31 Jan. in T. Jefferson Papers (1955) XII. 543 A single day's Retard.
1858 E. E. Crowe Hist. France I. vi. 271 Owing to the retard of the Genoese galleys, he did not sail till the 1st of July.
1865 Anthropol. Rev. 3 85 We have observed a very curious fact, namely a retard of dentition in children issued from consanguineous marriages.
1886 W. Ferrel Recent Adv. Meterol. 379 By correcting the observed intensities for a retard of 7.5 minutes, it is seen that the sums of the intensities before and after the middle of the eclipse..are very nearly equal.
1905 Proc. One Hundred & Fourteenth Anniv. (New Hampsh. Med. Soc.) 207 These circumstances stand for the cause of arrested progress of medicine, and retard in the advancement of science during this era.
1957 C. Parrish Notation Medieval Music (1978) i. 34 The horizontal episema..indicates a slight retard of a single note.
2000 R. R. Bello et al. in J. Debenham Professional Pract. in Artific. Intelligence 234 The transmitted phrases were received with an approximate retard of 1 sec. and without perceptible jitter.
b. in retard of: behind (a person or thing) in progress or development.
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1830 C. C. Colton Narr. Fr. Revol. 9 Those therefore who had been members of the National Guard, determined to be no longer in retard of the general movement.
1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. iv. 132 I was far in retard of them in real knowledge.
1954 E. S. Kirby Introd. Econ. Hist. China iii. 28 In his ‘dangerous thoughts’, this writer was in advance of his times, but in his safe ones he was in retard of them.
1971 Times 14 Apr. 14/3 The Government, somewhat in retard of the fact, enacted the..eugenic protection law in 1949.
2006 Nation (Pakistan) (Nexis) 11 Dec. India's interest today is to keep its neighbours in retard of the stage of development of its own industry.
c. in retard: in a delayed state, late; (also) belatedly.
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the world > space > relative position > position at the back > at the back or in the rear [phrase]
in (also at) the rearward1402
at the back ofc1430
in rear1602
in the rear1602
in (also at, on) one's rear?1624
in arrear1642
in retard1836
in back1961
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [phrase] > delayed
in retard1836
on hold1965
1836 Court Mag. Apr. p. xiii/1 The spring fashions are as yet very much in retard, but we have reason to believe that their simplicity will present a strong contrast to the magnificence of the winter toilettes.
1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xv. x. 148 The rearward regiments..are in painful retard.
1924 G. Seldes Seven Lively Arts 85 The moment in which a note occurs prematurely or in retard is, frequently, a moment of discord on the strong beat.
2000 Yearbk. Eng. Stud. 30 19 The Friar's alibi finds him at the right place but always a moment in retard.
2. In full retard of the tide. = retardation n. 2b(b). Now usually called the age of the tide.
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the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > tide > type of tide > [noun] > high > interval between moon's transit and
retard1833
retardation1845
1833 J. W. Lubbock in Philos. Trans. 123 19 The retard..at Portsmouth appears to be intermediate between that at Brest and at London.
1834 W. Whewell in Jrnl. Franklin Inst. 14 New Ser. 305 The length of time required for this purpose I have called the Age of the Tide. Mr. Lubbock, following Laplace, calls it the Retard.
1862 New Amer. Cycl. XV. 471 At Boston, this delay, which is called the retard, or age of the tide, is nearly 36 hours.
1926 H. A. Marmer Tide iii. 48 This retard in the response of the tide is called the ‘age of the tide’ and is generally ascribed to the effects of friction.
2006 J. Condeça et al. in A. Baba et al. Groundwater & Ecosystems 280 Transmissivity and permeability values estimated through the tide amplitude are very distinct from the ones obtained by the retard of the tide effects.
3. In a motor vehicle: the action of delaying the generation of the ignition spark; an adjustment or device for doing this.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > parts of > other parts
thermo-siphon1834
crank-case1878
manifolda1884
hot tube1889
sump1894
hit-and-miss governor1897
engine pit1903
retard1903
head1904
gasket1915
gravity tank1917
cylinder block1923
transfer case1923
swirl chamber1934
manifolding1938
ignition switch1952
catalytic converter1955
small block1963
cat1988
1903 Motor 22 July 598/2 Very erratic on the retard, and with tremendous knocking and misfiring of the engine on the advance.
1932 Motoring Encycl. 10/3 The Bosch automatic advance and retard (Fig. 3) is a simple design for a stationary armature type of magneto.
1977 Hot Car Oct. 75/3 The old one is capped off still retaining the advance retard.
2005 Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) (Nexis) 22 Oct. dt1 The PCM responds by retarding ignition timing—either until the knock disappears, or until maximum spark retard is reached.
4. Originally and chiefly North American.
a. (a) Education and Psychology. A person displaying or characterized by developmental delay or learning difficulties (cf. retardation n. 4a) (now rare, not the preferred term); (b) Education a child whose educational progress or level of attainment has fallen behind that expected for his or her age (cf. retardation n. 4b) (now rare, not the preferred term).
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the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > mental deficiency > [noun] > person
congeonc1285
idiota1400
foola1425
natural foolc1450
natural idiot1497
natural1533
changeling1577
weakling1577
mooncalf1586
slimslack1600
aufe1621
oaf1638
weak-wit1656
underwit1682
imbecile1830
ament1871
unfortunate1881
balmy1903
subnormal1905
deficient1906
retard1909
retardate1912
retarded1912
mopoke1946
retardee1956
mong1980
1909 Pediatrics 21 276 Then there are the backwards, or the retards for their years, and those subnormally endowed in respect to mental gifts, afflicted with physical defects of various kinds and degrees.
1914 E. E. Jones in Proc. Conf. Educ. Measurem. (Indiana Univ.) 53 If John, who is a retard, does remarkably well on these tests that would surely suggest a reopening of his case to discover whether somehow the teacher cannot reach him and obtain better work from him in the future.
1921 Phi Delta Kappan Nov. 23/1 Nov. 9—Seminar. Speakers. Bros. Warren and Lindquist. Subject. Classes for Mental Retards.
1967 T. Sturgeon in H. Ellison Dangerous Visions 364 Are you prepared to say that every mental retard is the product of an incestuous union? You'd better not, or you'll hurt the feelings of some pretty nice people.
1971 S. Tesich Carpenters 31 It's like when I was in that retard school..whenever I stopped doing something I liked they said I was a smart boy..damn smart boy for a retard.
1981 Amer. Sociol. Rev. 46 59 There are..several important studies on the ramifications for young children of being labeled a ‘retard’.
1987 W. Percy Thanatos Syndrome (1988) v. iv. 376 There is no reason to allow..a single retard to soil himself for fifty years.
2002 A. Fuller Don't let's go to Dogs Tonight 142 We have more than enough very well-trained (only white) teachers to go around, including a remedial teacher for the remedial kids, whom we call retards.
b. colloquial and slang (frequently derogatory and offensive, esp. in recent use). A person (or occasionally thing) regarded as being mentally or physically deficient, stupid, or incompetent.Recorded in U.S. oral use in 1959 in J. E. Lighter's Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang.
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1968 P. Napear Jrnl. 21 Mar. in Brain Child (1970) iii. viii. 203 All third-graders talk that way! Current put-down is no longer ‘Stupid Head’ or ‘Stupid Ears’..now it's ‘retard’. For everything uncooperative. Even an inanimate object.
1970 ‘Viva’ Superstar xxiii. 164 It got dark and they still weren't there. The driver was becoming a total retard and acted like he was in a foreign country.
1979 Observer 21 Oct. 53/5 These are men who have been out of England for years on end... Social retards, they can still hold onto their given obsolete ideas and prejudices about women because of their geographical isolation.
1986 J. Carabatsos & J. C. Stinson Heartbreak Ridge 97 These retards couldn't fight their way out of a shithouse.
1995 Loaded July 143/1 Tennis..is a sport stuffed to the gills with egomaniacs and emotional retards.
2006 C. Langston Bicoastal Babe iii. 25 My old advertising agency is run by a bunch of retards from the Stone Age.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
retardv.
/rᵻˈtɑːd/, U.S. /rəˈtɑrd/, /riˈtɑrd/ 1.
a. transitive. To hold back, delay, or slow (a person or thing) with respect to action, progress, etc.In quot. 1807 intransitive: to be detained or held up.With quot. 1868 cf. retardation n. 3a.
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the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > hinder in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > hinder or delay
bestayc1330
tarry1340
delaya1393
to put aback1450
to pull backa1470
retard1490
tarde1524
retary1526
to throw back1562
forslow1570
backward1594
detain1600
to set back1600
slug1605
retardate1613
tardya1616
taigle?1635
backen1649
remore1652
remorate1657
to cast back1671
to hold up1887
to knock back1945
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xxiii. 75 Here is one doubte that retardeth myne ymagynacyon.
1548 Princess Elizabeth & J. Bale tr. Queen Margaret of Angoulême Godly Medytacyon Christen Sowle f. 30v And euen as the feare of deathe ded retarde vs, so ought loue to gyue vs a desyre to dye.
1594 L. Lewkenor tr. O. de la Marche Resolued Gentleman f. 54v Hercules.., returning with his beloued pray to his fathers Kingdome, was retarded by the ouerflowing of the Riuer Euenus.
1601 Donne Progresse in Poems (1633) 14 Pace with the native streame, this fish doth keepe..But oft retarded, once with a hidden net.
1656 J. Denham Destr. Troy 22 The one retarded was By feeble Age, the other by a wound.
1694 J. Crowne Regulus iv. 41 I must retard her while I get my Pardon.
1728 E. Young Love of Fame: Universal Passion (ed. 2) ii. 281 Since smallest things can give our sins a twitch, As crossing straws retard a passing witch.
1732 T. Lediard tr. J. Terrasson Life Sethos II. ix. 291 This fleet..was extremely retarded by the winds.
1807 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi App. 61 Until the arrival of my sergeant and the balance of the party (should they not retard more than 20 days).
1823 F. Clissold Narr. Ascent Mont Blanc 21 We had been much retarded by difficulties, and waiting for wearied guides.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. vi. 253 When these waves [of light] enter a prism of glass they are retarded.
1868 F. A. G. Ouseley Treat. Harmony ix. 113 When the fifth is retarded, the dissonance of the second by retardation is produced.
1912 Sunset Dec. 682/1 His large heavy shoes retarded him.
2003 A. Milner in C. Barrow & F. Loh Kok Wah Malaysian Econ. & Polit. in New Cent. iii. x. 134 The Malays possessed a world view that retarded them in the contest between races in Malaysia.
b. transitive. To hold back the progress or impede the course of (an action, development, etc.). Also occasionally intransitive: to delay the progress or development of something.
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1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. cxcix. f. ccxlxi The kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded & let.
a1550 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (Sloane 1873) (1975) l. 2565 (MED) Life is shorte & science is full longe. Nethirles it gretelye retardith age When it is endid bi stronge corage.
1572 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. II. 158 That sa haly a work be not retardit.
1616 B. Jonson Alchemist (rev. ed.) iv. v. 51 in Wks. I This'll retard The worke, a month at least.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §402 These..were slower than the ordinary Wheat..and this Culture did rather retard than advance.
1642 C. Vernon Considerations Excheqver 91 The principal causes which have hindred and retarded the due answering of the Kings Revenues and Debts.
1693 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. viii. 13 They neither assist nor retard..the Revolutions of the Planets.
1726 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xv. 40 Nor let the night retard thy full career.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. ii. v. 446 They would retard instead of accelerating the further increase. View more context for this quotation
1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. lxv. 379 The patriots endeavoured to avert or retard the ruin of the League.
1871 B. Stewart Heat (ed. 2) §98 Capillary attraction appears to retard the formation of ice.
1876 T. B. Stockwell Hist. Public Educ. in Rhode Island 372 And, while there is a spirit of conservatism among us, that may retard for a while, yet the public sentiment of a large majority is toward the highest possible attainment.
1954 L. P. Batjer in H. B. Tukey Plant Regulators in Agric. viii. 125 Marth, Havis, and Batjer, in an attempt to retard the development of peach flower buds, performed extensive experiments at Beltsville, Maryland.
1992 G. C. Ehrlich Sexual Educ. Edith Wharton ii. 55 Wharton's extreme closeness to her father may have retarded her sexual development.
2. † b. intransitive. To be slow or tardy to do something. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To put off to a later time; to defer, postpone, delay.In quot. 1739 intransitive: to be postponed, occur later.
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the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (transitive)]
forslowc888
eldc897
forsita940
gele971
lengOE
drilla1300
delayc1300
onfrestc1300
tarryc1320
jornc1330
dretchc1380
defer1382
forbida1387
to put offa1387
to put (also set) (something) in (or on) delaya1393
dilate1399
fordrawa1400
to put overc1410
latch?c1422
adjournc1425
prolongc1425
proloynec1425
rejournc1425
to put in respite1428
sleuthc1430
respitea1450
prorogue1453
refer1466
sleep1470
supersede1482
respectc1487
postpone1496
overseta1500
respett1500
enjourna1513
relong1523
retract1524
tarde1524
track1524
to fode forth1525
tract1527
protract1528
further1529
to make stay of1530
surcease1530
prorogate1534
to fay upon longc1540
linger1543
retard?1543
slake1544
procrastine1548
reprieve1548
remit1550
suspense1556
leave1559
shiftc1562
suspend1566
procrastinate1569
dally1574
post1577
to hold off1580
drift1584
loiter1589
postpose1598
to take one's (own) timea1602
flag1602
slug1605
elong1610
belay1613
demur1613
tardya1616
to hang up1623
frist1637
disjourn1642
future1642
off1642
waive1653
superannuate1655
perendinate1656
stave1664
detard1675
remora1686
to put back1718
withhold1726
protract1737
to keep over1847
to hold over1853
laten1860
to lay over1885
hold1891
back-burner1975
?1543 J. Clerke tr. D. de San Pedro Certayn Treatye sig. Fi I haue somuche sayde and wryten that I knowe not what more to tell the, Somuche is there þt yf thou retard and dyfferre my hope shortly shall end my purposes and my lyfe.
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iv. iii. 235 The joy he tooke in being disperplex'd and unloaden of that glorious and stately slaverie..retarded the houre of his death.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite ii. in Fables 33 Nor Kings, nor Nations, nor united Pow'r One Moment can retard th' appointed Hour.
1735 in Pope's Lett. Suppl. 11 He retarded his Edition of Mr. Cromwell's Letters till the Twenty-Second of March.
1739 Philos. Trans. 1737–8 (Royal Soc.) 40 312 The Ninth time [she was pumped on the head and neck with waters] her Disorder seiz'd her an Hour later than usual... The next Evening it retarded two Hours.
1820 W. Scott Monastery II. iii. 95 If we were now either to advance or retard the hour of refection beyond the time.
1886 Minnesota Med. Monthly Aug. 92/1 There is a medico-legal use of Glonoine... It will retard the moment or hour of death.
1913 C. C. Bowsfield Making Farm Pay 193 The method of pinching off blossoms to retard fruit bearing is quite simple.
1938 Life 6 June 29/2 (advt.) Power is lost because the spark must be retarded to prevent ‘knock’ or ‘ping’.
1992 D. Pinault Story-telling Techniques in Arabian Nights ii. vii. 49 Our..storyteller accumulates descriptive detail at this point to increase audience suspense and retard the moment of revelation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (intransitive)] > to do something
standc1400
retard1550
stay1553
1550 T. Nicolls tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War iii. v. f. lxxvii The Mytilenyans were slacke or retarded to make any appoinctement with the Athenyans.
1730 J. Gay Poems Several Occasions II. 213 Call loud on Justice, bid her not retard To punish murder.
1788 A. Coyle Collectanea Sacra II. v. 166 Such as retain or retard to give the pious oblations of the faithful debtors to the church..are to be cast out of the church like infidels.
3. intransitive. To slow down; spec. to undergo retardation (retardation n. 2a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (intransitive)] > be delayed
hang1494
stick?a1518
supersede1569
to cool one's heels (also feet, hooves)1576
slow1601
stay1642
retard1646
to come by the lame post1658
to cool one's toes1665
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 194 Putrefaction..shall retard or accelerate according to the subject and season of the year. View more context for this quotation
1665 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 1 38 The Comet advances..towards the East, and..retards towards the West.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 520/2 Its motion from Q to o must retard by the same degrees as it accelerated in passing from s to Q.
1849 J. F. W. Herschel Outl. Astron. xiii. 438 The force retards, and the moon approaches.
1979 Amer. Poetry Rev. Mar.–Apr. 46/2 Gliding around a narrow projecting lip..we come about, retarding to a slow sputtery putt-putt.
2000 J. Hebborn & J. Littlewood Mech. 1 iii. 58 The car..uniformly retards through a distance of 10·5 m and comes to rest.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1781v.1490