from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Delay \De*lay"\, n.; pl. {Delays}. [F. d['e]lai, fr. OF. deleer
to delay, or fr. L. dilatum, which, though really from a
different root, is used in Latin only as a p. p. neut. of
differre to carry apart, defer, delay. See {Tolerate}, and
cf. {Differ}, {Delay}, v.]
A putting off or deferring; procrastination; lingering
inactivity; stop; detention; hindrance.
[1913 Webster]
Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment
seat. --Acts xxv.
17.
[1913 Webster]
The government ought to be settled without the delay of
a day. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]