[re.tard] vb [ME, fr. MF or L; MF retarder, fr. L retardare, fr. re- + tardus slow] vt (15c) 1: to slow up esp. by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment: impede
2: to delay academic progress by failure to promote ~ vi: to undergo retardation syn see delay -- re.tard.er n
[2]re.tard n (1788) 1: a holding back or slowing down: retardation
2: a retarded person; also: a person held to resemble a retarded person in behavior--often taken to be offensive