Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SLOW, a.¹ [Sax. slaw, for slag; Dan. slöv, dull, blunt; contracted from the root of slack, sluggard, lag.]

1. Moving a small distance in a long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.
2. Late; not happening in a short time. These changes in the heavens though slow, produc'd / Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast. – Milton.
3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue. – Exod. iv.
4. Dull; inactive; tardy. The Trojans are not slow / To guard their shore from an expected foe. – Dryden.
5. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation. The Lord is merciful, slow to anger. – Com. Prayer. He that is slow to wrath, is of great understanding. – Prov. xiv.
6. Dull; heavy in wit. – Pope.
7. Behind in time; indicating a time later than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.
8. Not advancing, growing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.