— retardative /ri tahr"deuh tiv/ , retardatory /ri tahr"deuh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , adj.
/ree'tahr day"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of retarding or state of being retarded.
2. something that retards; hindrance.
3. slowness or limitation in intellectual understanding and awareness, emotional development, academic progress, etc.
4. Music. a form of suspension that is resolved upward.
Also, retardment /ri tahrd"meuhnt/ .
[ 1400-50; late ME retardacioun retardation- (s. of retardatio ), equiv. to retardat ( us ) (see RETARD, -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]