snail-likeadj.adv.
A. adj.
1. Like or resembling a snail in appearance, habits, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Gastropoda > [adjective] > belonging to order Pulmonifera > relating to slugs or snails > resembling a snail
snaily1596
snail-like1607
1607 J. Davies Summa Totalis sig. B2v And though it be..steepe,..Yet (Snaile-like) cling to it, and climbing creep, But fall not off it.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Limaceux,..Snaile-like.
1665 R. Brathwait Comment Two Tales Chaucer (1901) 45 Must I Snayl-like, keep still under roof.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 356 Those snail like animals that receive the name of testaceous fishes.
1881 G. Allen Evolutionist at Large 57 The truest and most snail-like snails.
1901 E. Step Shell Life xix. 347 The snail-like slugs are succeeded by the genus Helix.
2. Characterized by slowness of progress, etc.; slow, tardy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [adjective]
lateeOE
slackc1000
slowc1225
heavya1400
lent14..
slowfulc1400
sloth1412
latesomea1425
sluggedc1430
sluggingc1430
tardy1483
lingeringa1547
tarde1547
sleuth1567
snailish1581
slow-moving1592
lagging1597
snail-paced1597
snail-slow1600
slow-pacing1616
snail-like1639
sluggish1640
ignave1657
languishing1693
slow-stepping1793
lentitudinous1801
somnolent1812
slow-coachish1844
tardigradous1866
vermigrade1938
slow-cooking1968
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adjective] > tardy or sluggish
lateeOE
latredec897
latelyOE
slowfulc1400
latesomea1425
languoring?c1425
sluggedc1430
tardy1483
tediousc1485
hooly1513
longsome1543
lingeringa1547
tarde1547
slow-worm1548
tardious?1572
lagging1597
snail-slow1600
snail-paced1601
snail-like1639
languid1646
dilatory1648
sluggish1648
languishing1693
laggard1702
lentitudinous1801
laggardly1826
lag-last1862
slowpoke1872
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. v. 116 The snail-like siege of Ptolemais, still slowly creeping on.
1831 Lincoln Herald 29 July 1/6 The snail-like progress of the English Reform Bill.
B. adv.
With the slow motion characteristic of a snail; tardily, sluggishly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adverb]
slowlyc1384
slowa1398
tortoise-like1645
lently1655
snail-like1825
loiteringly1836
dreichly1844
oozily1871
leadenly1879
snailishly1889
glacially1975
1825 W. Scott Talisman viii, in Tales Crusaders IV. 158 The marabout..glided on gradually and imperceptibly, serpent-like, or rather snail-like.
1898 J. Arch Story of Life vii. 162 They would crawl snail-like, to the feet of the squire.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
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adj.adv.1607