from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Retard \Re*tard"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Retarded}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Retarding}.] [L. retardare, retardatum; pref. re- re- +
tardare to make slow, to delay, fr. tardus slow: cf. F.
retarder. See {Tardy}.]
1. To keep delaying; to continue to hinder; to prevent from
progress; to render more slow in progress; to impede; to
hinder; as, to retard the march of an army; to retard the
motion of a ship; -- opposed to {accelerate}.
[1913 Webster]
2. To put off; to postpone; as, to retard the attacks of old
age; to retard a rupture between nations.
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Syn: To impede; hinder; obstruct; detain; delay;
procrastinate; postpone; defer.
[1913 Webster]