Loiter
['lɒɪtə] or ['lɔɪtɚ]
Definition
(verb.) be about; 'The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square'; 'Who is this man that is hanging around the department?'.
Typist: Portia--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To be slow in moving; to delay; to linger; to be dilatory; to spend time idly; to saunter; to lag behind.
(v. i.) To wander as an idle vagrant.
Edited by Gail
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. Lag, linger, delay, saunter, dillydally, move slowly.
Typed by Kevin
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See LAD]
Checked by Barry
Definition
v.i. to delay: to be slow in moving: to linger.—n. Loi′terer.—adv. Loi′teringly.
Editor: Roxanne
Examples
- He knew we could not get along without him and that we would not want to loiter about and wait for him. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Now, when we come to St Paul's churchyard,' pursued Eugene, 'we'll loiter artfully, and I'll show you the schoolmaster. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The weather being dark, and piercing cold, he had no great temptation to loiter. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- But don't loiter, boy. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Mind you do it thoroughly, and don't loiter. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- I had heard them, alone at the bedside, striking their boots with their riding-whips, and loitering up and down. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- Much relieved when the two hours were at last accomplished, he went away at a quick pace, as a recompense for so much loitering. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Why have you been loitering so, Sam? Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Did you ask her whether in leaving she met any one or saw any one loitering about Charles Street? Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- They were loitering somewhere, talking about him. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- We loitered down to the Temple stairs, and stood loitering there, as if we were not quite decided to go upon the water at all. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- This,' said the man: 'I saw three boys: two others and the prisoner here: loitering on the opposite side of the way, when this gentleman was reading. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- We loitered through dungeon after dungeon, away down into the living rock below the level of the sea, it seemed. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- We loitered down to the Temple stairs, and stood loitering there, as if we were not quite decided to go upon the water at all. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Having put the Collector into the hands of his servant, Dobbin loitered about, smoking his cigar before the inn door. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Several men in civilian metal loitered near the front entrance and in the rear were others. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
- We loitered the morning away in the garden. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- A few people loitered about, but the greater part of the population was within doors. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Tom was in attendance, and loitered about until the expected train came in. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- By the scallop-shell of Compostella, I will make a martyr of him, if he loiters here to hatch treason among my domestics! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Usually it loiters; but just when one has come to count upon its slowness, it may suddenly break into a wild irrational gallop. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
Checked by Basil