retardationn.
/ˌriːtɑːˈdeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌriˌtɑrˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/ 1. gen.† b. The action or fact of staying behind or lingering. Obsolete. rare.
a. The action of slowing down or delaying something, esp. with regard to progress or development; an instance of this; (also) the fact or condition of being slowed down or delayed.
ΘΚΠ
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
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [noun] > hindering or retarding
retardationc1437
tardation1568
delay1570
retarding1585
detention1589
forslowing1611
remore1627
retardment1640
tardidation1647
backing1649
retardure1751
demurrage1817
delayal1834
delaying action1872
heel-tapping?1883
c1437 Chancery Proc. Ser. C1 File 9 No. 281 (MED) Þe seid Thomas Botiller hath take an accion ayens þe seid executors..in retardacion of paying of the seid John.
1474–5 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 3rd Roll §55. m. 3 William..in the said prisone of Newgate is reteyned, to grete delay and retardation of procedyng..in this present parlement.
1508 in Lett. Richard III & Henry VII (1861) I. 451 The retardacion of their ambassade.
1513 King Henry VIII in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1822) I. ii. 6 By the retardation of our said ship she now lately fell into the daungier & hands of the Mores.
1597 J. Tanner Serm. Paules Crosse (new ed.) 66 Retardation of death, of this saith Ezechiel, I will not the death of a sinner, but rather that hee turne and liue.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Pp2 Causing a retardation of Reading, and some sloth or relaxation of Memorie. View more context for this quotation
1661 A. Cowley Proposition Advancem. Exper. Philos. 26 All manner of Experiments concerning Plants, as their Melioration, Acceleration, Retardation.
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi i. ii. 5/1 Finding the Reformation of the Church..to labour under a sort of hopeless Retardation.
1762 B. Stillingfleet tr. Misc. Tracts (ed. 2) 253 In order to determine accurately the acceleration or retardation of the winter.
1817 T. R. Malthus Ess. Princ. Population (ed. 5) III. App. 421 A gradual change..would then effect the necessary retardation in the rate of increase.
1865 C. J. Ellicott Destiny Creature (ed. 4) Pref. 6 They speak of nought but obstructions and retardations, where all is buoyancy and progress.
1891 C. L. Morgan Animal Life & Intell. 223 This retardation or decreased rate of growth.
1936 Lancet 18 Jan. 161/1 In both the depressed and exalted phases three symptoms are to be noted. In the depressed phase emotional depression, psychomotor retardation, and difficulty in thinking.
1967 Jrnl. Pediatrics 70 413 Retardation in height and weight was noted in all children with cardiac disease.
1981 V. Kulvinskas et al. Life in 21st Cent. iii. 252 Retardation of estrus observed in female rats.
2002 K. Matinuddin Nuclearization S. Asia ii. 42 Corruption was increasing, unemployment was rising, and the economic retardation of the Kashmiris was growing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [noun] > slowness to act
retardation1633
dilatoriness1642
tarditude1794
laggardness1869
impromptitude1887
foot-dragging1947
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (iii. 18) 1521 Thinke upon his [sc. Lot's] wives retardation and retrospection.
2. Science.
a. Deceleration or reduction in velocity; spec. the slowing of the motion of a planet or satellite along part of its orbit; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > heavenly body > movement of heavenly bodies > [noun] > retardation
retardationa1475
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > dynamics > [noun] > speed or direction as vector quality > rate of increase of velocity > opposite of acceleration
retardationa1475
lag1855
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 12362 (MED) Sythe, thys bodyes celestyal..Ben let thus in ther mocyouns, And han swych retardacyouns..Merveylle nat thogh yt be so That thow be let in thy vyage..Off Retardaciouns that falle.
1647 H. More Philos. Poems Notes 392 The acceleration or retardation of the motion of the Earth will make the sea fluctuate.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) The Retardation of moving Bodies arises from two great Causes: The Resistence of the Medium, and the Force of Gravity.
1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. III. xxvii. 132 Accelerations and retardations may be considered as quantities, and are measured by the changes of velocity.
1814 J. Playfair Outl. Nat. Philos. II. i. x. 183 The amount of the retardation, from the opposition to the conjunction, is 16m 26s nearly.
1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. iii. §17. 57 We daily witness the gradual retardation and final stoppage of things projected from the hand or otherwise impelled.
1945 C. E. Balleisen Princ. Firearms xi. 118 The force required to penetrate or break the screen has its corresponding effect on the bullet... It receives a sudden retardation.
1975 Nature 27 Mar. 314/2 The energy dissipation..necessary to account for the secular retardation of the rate of rotation of the Earth.
2001 Car & Driver Dec. 9/2 When I gave the brakes a pretty decent stab for the turn, nothing happened! I doubled my pedal effort and sensed a tiny bit of retardation.
b. † (a) The length of time by which the interval between successive morning tides exceeds the solar day. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > tide > type of tide > [noun] > high > excess of period above solar day
retardation1663
1663 G. Harvey Archelogia Philosophica Nova II. ii. vii. 304 (margin) Hence you may collect the cause of the retardation of the tide every day.
1686 J. Goad Astro-meteorologica vi. 19 The Retardation of the Tide, parallel to the Moon's coming to the South about 48 minutes later, the only common motion as is acknowledged to the Planet and the Element, is such an argument.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 521/1 The difference between a solar day and a tide day is called the priming or the retardation of the tides.
1845 Encycl. Metrop. V. 241* The average retardation from day to day being about 40 minutes.
(b) The length of time elapsing between the passage of the moon over a meridian and the high point of the tide that it has caused at this point; (occasionally also) the lunitidal interval. Cf. retard n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > tide > type of tide > [noun] > high > interval between moon's transit and
retard1833
retardation1845
1845 Encycl. Metrop. V. 257* The retardation of high water after the moon's passage over the meridian.
1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 366/2 When the mean semi-range and retardation of any tide are known its height may be computed for any instant.
1952 J. A. Steers et al. Lake's Physical Geogr. (ed. 3) ii. iii. 184 There is also a lag in the maximum noted at perigee of up to 1½ days. This retardation in tidal response is called the age of the tide and usually is assumed to be due to friction.
2000 R. C. Bostrom Tectonic Consequences Earth's Rotation ii. 31 The height of each tide, and the retardation of phase (or the lag) are functions of the frequency of the tide, and of the constants expressive of the physical constitution of the spheroid.
c. The slowing of a ray of light when it enters or passes through a denser medium; (also) the phase difference between two waves arriving at the same point owing to one of the waves having been slowed along part of its path, or diverted along a longer path.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > heat > [noun] > slowing
retardation1722
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > emission of light, radiation > [noun] > speed of light > slowing
retardation1722
1722 B. Worster Compend. Acct. Princ. Nat. Philos. 207 Let BC represent the Interval of Retardation in any Ray.
1769 J. Fenn Instr. given in Drawing School I. 102 The Ray passes through Degrees of Retardation which are in the same Ratio, and in the same inverse order as the Degrees of Acceleration which is passed through at its incidence.
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics xxiv. 213 They will..produce a colour or a fringe corresponding to the retardation of one of the rays within the plate.
1882 G. M. Minchin Uniplanar Kinematics 18 A retardation of a whole wave length..is tantamount to no retardation at all.
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 633/2 Phase retardation, the same as phase delay, but usually expressed in radians, whereas phase delay generally refers to time in seconds.
1989 R. Dryer & G. Lata Exper. Biochem. i. ii. 24 In such dual reflections, there is always a phase shift, or retardation, equal to exactly one-half the wavelength.
2002 M. Vable Mech. of Materials viii. 554 The ray along the slower axis reaches the same magnitude as the faster ray after a time Δt. The time Δt is called retardation time.
3. Music.
a. A suspension (suspension n. 8) which is resolved by raising the dissonant note by one step.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > [noun] > movement of parts > suspension, anticipation, etc.
resolution1721
preparation1728
postposition1730
retardation1730
suspense1737
suspension1786
anticipation1819
triple suspension1876
percussion1880
1730 Short Treat. Harmony 37 Postposition, or Retardation of Harmony, is the putting a Discord upon the Accented Part of the Bar, follow'd by a Concord on the Unaccented Part, but not Prepared and Resolved, according to the Regular Rules for Discords.
1768 J. C. Heck Compl. Syst. Harmony x. 17 If the Discord syncopes in the upper Parts, we may look upon it to be a Retardation of the succeeding Note.
1818 T. Busby Gram. Music 339 This Discord, the dissonant note of which is but a retardation of the Eighth, is liable to four changes.
1868 F. A. G. Ouseley Treat. Harmony ix. 112 When an interval of a melody (or of an inner part) is kept back in ascending, it is called a retardation.
1899 F. Bridge & F. J. Sawyer Harmony xiii. 98 A Retardation is formed when a note, which should ascend in its progression one degree, is delayed.
1930 Musical Times 71 226/2 Free use is made of unessential notes—retardations, appoggiaturas, passing-notes, &c.
1988 Computer Music Jrnl. 12 38/2 Except for a couple of retardations and one inharmonic passing tone, each new note appears in harmonic series order.
b. A slackening of the tempo; a slowing down.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > tempo > [noun] > increase or decrease
accelerando1786
retardation1786
ritardando1838
ritard1859
allargando1873
stringendo1937
ritenuto1955
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music sig. Ov Primo Tempo,..an expression used after a retardation or acceleration of the time, to signify that the first motion of the measure is resumed.
1834 Penny Cycl. II. 549/2 A tempo, in music..signifies, that after any change in motion, by retardation or acceleration, the original movement is to be restored.
1853 E. S. Sheppard Charles Auchester II. 180 The slightest possible retardation at its close brought us to the refrain of the simple adagio.
1904 D. G. Mason Masters in Music III. 206 This well-known and exceedingly popular polka-mazurka depends for its seductiveness..on the slight retardations and accelerations in tempo of which it is full.
1952 Musical Q. 38 397 An actual change of tempo, a true acceleration or retardation, is possible only in much narrower limits.
2001 Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) (Nexis) 27 July 45 Every tune has a tempo, of course, but that is altered by..acceleration and retardation of the time.
4. Psychology and Education. Cf. retarded adj. 2.
a. More fully mental retardation. The condition, apparent before the age of 18 years, of having below-average intellectual capacity, accompanied by deficits in adaptive functioning; spec. the condition of having an IQ below 70. The condition is subdivided into the categories mild, moderate, severe, and profound. Mental retardation and mental impairment are currently the preferred terms for this condition (replacing both mental deficiency and mental handicap), but neither term enjoys universal approval.
ΚΠ
1892 C. A. Rhodes Dis. Children 143 The affection of the nervous system..is manifest by paralysis more or less localized, epilepsy, hydrocephalous, idiocy, and mental retardation.
1907 A. Ross Diefendorf Clin. Psychiatry (rev. ed.) 43 Mental retardation can..produce a form of confusion of thought, through the slowing of the process of comprehension and mental elaboration.
1951 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 51 745/1 Kernicterus is frequently fatal, but if the infant does survive, evidences of motor disability in later infancy and mental retardation are usually present.
1975 E. E. Balthazar & H. A. Stevens Emotionally Disturbed, Mentally Retarded i. 3 The problems imposed by mental retardation and adaptive behavior.
1989 USA Today (Nexis) 10 Jan. (News section) 8 a A criminal's retardation certainly ought to be a factor that judges and juries weigh in passing sentence.
2003 V. Patel Where there is no Psychiatrist viii. 157 Children with mild mental retardation may..show emotional and behavioural problems in the classroom... Children with more severe mental retardation often have brain damage.
b. North American. Education. In a child: the fact or condition of falling below the attainment level expected at a particular age, or of being held back as a result of failure to progress at the expected rate. Also: the measure by which a child lags behind the expected standard; a delay in progress of a specified number of years. Cf. retard n. 4a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > developmental psychology > acquisition of knowledge > learning impairment > [noun]
retardation1907
moronism1913
learning disability1920
subnormality1935
1907 Psychol. Clinic I. 98 The failure of many pupils to be promoted regularly from grade to grade—retardation—has been a subject for..serious consideration.
1914 W. B. Drummond tr. A. Binet & T. Simon Mentally Defective Children ii. 16 According to a convention..we regard as defective in intelligence a child who shows a retardation of three years, when he himself is nine years of age or more.
1937 C. L. Burt Backward Child iv. 78 Thus, at the age of 10, the borderline for backwardness is a retardation of 1½ years (not, as is so commonly stated, of 2 years), or, in terms of the ratio, 15 per cent.
1974 D. B. Tyack One Best Syst. 243 Retardation rates were generally lower for those children of all nationalities whose parents spoke English..and whose fathers had lived for long periods in the United States.
1998 Overcoming Failure at School (O.E.C.D.) i. ii. 64/1 In theory, it is easy to calculate school retardation rates on the basis of the theoretical age of the pupils in a given grade and the identification of pupils one year or more over that age.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1437