Meanings
plural retardments
- countableuncountableRetardation; the act of retarding or delaying.
And forasmuch as his return hath been longer then I looked for, I have sent thus expressly to know both of him, and of you, the cause of this retardment of his.
1653, Henry Cogan, The voyages and adventures of Fernand Mendez Pinto, volume 3, translation of original by Fernão Mendes Pinto, published 16452 more examples
And when he saw that all the dogs were flocking about her, yarring at the retardment of their access to her, and every way keeping such a coil with her as they are wont to do about a proud or salt bitch, he forthwith departed […]
1653, François Rabelais, translated by Thomas Urquhart, Gargantua and PantagruelDespite the retardments occasioned by the war, and the heavy financial loss suffered from the freeing of 1200 slaves in Tazewell, the wealth of the county was not seriously impaired.
1920, William Cecil Pendleton, History of Tazewell county and southwest Virginia: 1748-1920, page 657
Origin
Compare Middle French and French retardement.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
retardment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardment
“retardment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardment. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retardment,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardment.
Source: retardment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.