snail-slowadj.adv.
1. That is as slow as a snail; very sluggish or tardy in motion, progress, etc. Hence as adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [adjective]
lateeOE
slackc1000
slowc1225
heavya1400
lent14..
slowfulc1400
sloth1412
latesomea1425
sluggedc1430
sluggingc1430
tardy1483
lingeringa1547
tarde1547
sleuth1567
snailish1581
slow-moving1592
lagging1597
snail-paced1597
snail-slow1600
slow-pacing1616
snail-like1639
sluggish1640
ignave1657
languishing1693
slow-stepping1793
lentitudinous1801
somnolent1812
slow-coachish1844
tardigradous1866
vermigrade1938
slow-cooking1968
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adjective] > tardy or sluggish
lateeOE
latredec897
latelyOE
slowfulc1400
latesomea1425
languoring?c1425
sluggedc1430
tardy1483
tediousc1485
hooly1513
longsome1543
lingeringa1547
tarde1547
slow-worm1548
tardious?1572
lagging1597
snail-slow1600
snail-paced1601
snail-like1639
languid1646
dilatory1648
sluggish1648
languishing1693
laggard1702
lentitudinous1801
laggardly1826
lag-last1862
slowpoke1872
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adverb] > very slowly
snail-slow1901
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. v. 46 The patch is..a huge feeder, Snaile slow in profit. View more context for this quotation
1803 Pic Nic No. 1. 3 France is..cold and snail-slow in redress or justice.
1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair iii. viii. 55 The son, impatient, leaves his snail-slow sire.
1901 E. Phillpotts Striking Hours 114 Off goes Squire snail-slow.
1951 W. de la Mare Winged Chariot 44 Snail-slow moves everything for which we wait.
1974 V. Canning Painted Tent x. 203 The time of waiting..had passed snail-slow for Smiler.
2. Marked by excessive slowness of progress.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adjective] > very slow
snail-paced1597
as slow as molasses1854
snail-slow1900
1900 Daily News 12 July 6/2 The era of military reform, which may be said to have begun its snail-slow course in 1870.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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adj.adv.1600