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dally
[ dal-ee ]
/ ˈdæl i /
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verb (used without object), dal·lied, dal·ly·ing.
to waste time; loiter; delay.
to act playfully, especially in an amorous or flirtatious way.
to play mockingly; trifle: to dally with danger.
verb (used with object), dal·lied, dal·ly·ing.
to waste (time) (usually followed by away).
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Origin of dally
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dalien from Anglo-French dalier “to chat,” of uncertain origin
synonym study for dally
1. See loiter.
OTHER WORDS FROM dally
dal·li·er, noundal·ly·ing·ly, adverbun·dal·ly·ing, adjectiveWords nearby dally
dalles, dalliance, Dallin, Dallis grass, Dall's sheep, dally, Dalmane, Dalmatia, Dalmatian, dalmatic, Dalriada
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use dally in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for dally
dally
/ (ˈdælɪ) /
verb -lies, -lying or -lied (intr)
to waste time idly; dawdle
(usually foll by with) to deal frivolously or lightly with; trifle; toyto dally with someone's affections
Derived forms of dally
dallier, nounWord Origin for dally
C14: from Anglo-French dalier to gossip, of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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