delay

Etymology 1

From Middle English delaien, borrowed from Anglo-Norman delaier, Old French deslaier, from des- + Old French laier (“to leave”), a conflation of Old Frankish *lattjan ("to delay, hinder"; from Proto-Germanic *latjaną (“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to leave, leave behind”)), and Old Frankish *laibijan ("to leave"; from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to remain, continue”)). Akin to Old English latian (“to delay, hesitate”), Old English latu (“a delay, a hindrance”), Old English lǣfan (“to leave”). More at let (to hinder), late, leave.

noun

1. A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
   the delay before the echo of a sound
   The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day. 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume 1, London: A. and W. Galignani & Co., published 1849, page 522
   In this article I'm thinking about the big delays, over two hours. While rare, they make the news and help to deter people from future rail travel, both travellers and news viewers. 2019 October, Ian Walmsley, “Cleaning up”, in Modern Railways, page 42
2. (music) An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
   The 8-bit sound quality of many early delays did indeed leave a lot to be desired (compare this to the 16-bit digital technology of CDs) 2014, Dave Hunter, Guitar Amps and Effects For Dummies, page 259
3. (programming, Clojure) Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”)
4. (chess) An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To put off until a later time; to defer.
2. To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time.
   The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To allay; to temper.
   The watery showers delay the raging wind. a. 1547, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, The faithful Lover declareth his Pains and his uncertain Joys, and with only Hope recomforteth somewhat his woful Heart

Etymology 2

From Middle English delaien, from Old French delaiier, a variant of delaissier.

verb

1. (obsolete) To dilute, temper.
2. (obsolete) To assuage, quench, allay.