\DIL-uh-tor-ee\, adjective: 1 Tending to put off what ought to be done at once; given to procrastination 2 Marked by procrastination or delay; intended to cause delay; -- said of actions or measures
Someone or something that is dilatory is slow and causes delay. You might expect politicians to smooth things out when civil servants are being dilatory. slow in doing something (dilatorius, from dilatus, past participle of differre ; DIFFER)
Said of a defense or a plea that resists the plaintiff's present right of recovery by interposing some temporary objection, as that the court has no jurisdiction, that the plaintiff lacks capacity to sue See 3 Bl Com 301 A form of plea