Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Slow
Slow
(slō)
, Adj.
[
Com
par.
Slower
(slō′ẽr)
; sup
erl.
Slowest
.] 1.
Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate;
as, a
. slow
stream; a slow
motion2.
Not happening in a short time; gradual; late.
These changes in the heavens, though
Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast.
slow
, producedLike change on sea and land, sidereal blast.
Milton.
3.
Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish;
as,
. slow
of speech, and slow
of tongueFixed on defense, the Trojans are not
To guard their shore from an expected foe.
slow
To guard their shore from an expected foe.
Dryden.
4.
Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.
He that is
slow
to wrath is of great understanding. Prov. xiv. 29.
5.
Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time;
as, the clock or watch is
. slow
6.
Not advancing or improving rapidly;
as, the
. slow
growth of arts and sciences7.
Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull.
[Colloq.]
Dickens. Thackeray.
☞ Slow is often used in the formation of compounds for the most part self-explaining; as, slow-gaited, slow-paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like.
Slow coach
, a slow person. See def.7, above.
[Colloq.]
– Slow lemur
, or
Slow loris
(Zool.)
, an East Indian nocturnal lemurine animal (
– Nycticebus tardigradus
) about the size of a small cat; – so called from its slow and deliberate movements. It has very large round eyes and is without a tail. Called also bashful Billy
. Slow match
. See under
Match
.
Syn. – Dilatory; late; lingering; tardy; sluggish; dull; inactive.
– Slow
, Tardy
, Dilatory
. Slow is the wider term, denoting either a want of rapid motion or inertness of intellect. Dilatory signifies a proneness to defer, a habit of delaying the performance of what we know must be done. Tardy denotes the habit of being behind hand; as, tardy in making up one’s acounts. Slow
,adv.
Slowly.
Let him have time to mark how
In time of sorrow.
slow
time goesIn time of sorrow.
Shakespeare
Slow
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Slowed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Slowing
.] To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay;
as, to
. slow
a steamerShak.
Slow
,Verb.
I.
To go slower; – often with up;
as, the train
. slowed
up before crossing the bridgeSlow
,Noun.
A moth.
[Obs.]
Rom. of R.
Webster 1828 Edition
Slow
SLOW
,Adj.
1.
Moving a small distance in a long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; as a slow stream; a slow motion.2.
Late; not happening in short time. These changes in the heavens though slow, produc'd like change on sea and land, sidereal blast.3.
Not ready; not prompt or quick; as slow of speech, and slow of tongue. Ex. 4.4.
Dull; in active; tardy. The Trojans are not slow to guard their shore from an expected foe.5.
Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation. The Lord is merciful, slow to anger. He that is slow the wrath is of great understanding. Prov. 14.6.
Dull; heavy in wit.7.
Behind in time; indicating a time later than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.8.Not advancing, growing or improving rapidly; as the slow growth of arts and sciences.