Find the word definition

Crossword clues for dallying

dallying
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Dallying

Dally \Dal"ly\ (d[a^]l"l[y^]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dallied (d[a^]l"l[i^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Dallying.] [OE. dalien, dailien; cf. Icel. pylja to talk, G. dallen, dalen, dahlen, to trifle, talk nonsense, OSw. tule a droll or funny man; or AS. dol foolish, E. dull.]

  1. To waste time in effeminate or voluptuous pleasures, or in idleness; to fool away time; to delay unnecessarily; to tarry; to trifle.

    We have trifled too long already; it is madness to dally any longer.
    --Calamy.

    We have put off God, and dallied with his grace.
    --Barrow.

  2. To interchange caresses, especially with one of the opposite sex; to use fondling; to wanton; to sport.

    Not dallying with a brace of courtesans.
    --Shak.

    Our aerie . . . dallies with the wind.
    --Shak.

Wiktionary
dallying

n. dalliance vb. (present participle of dally English)

Usage examples of "dallying".

Without staying for those preliminary dallyings which are so sweet when one is at ease, we undressed ourselves, and began with all seriousness to play our part, which we did to perfection.

Without staying for those preliminary dallyings which are so sweet when one is at ease, we undressed ourselves, and began with all seriousness to play our part, which we did to perfection.

The switches of lads in attendance, here and there, in colorful garments, in colorful cloaks, a livery of sorts, would brook neither delays nor dallyings on the part of the beauties.

The blinds were up at the windows, the front door fast to prevent intrusion, and then the widow and he entered into a long colloquy, interrupted occasionally by little amorous dallyings, which reminded you of the wooings of a male and female elephant.