Dalliers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who engages in idle or frivolous behavior, often wasting time instead of being productive
2. A person noted for their tendency to spend time in leisure or playful activities rather than pursuing serious undertakings
3. Someone who treats time carelessly or is habitually unproductive, often engaging in trivial pursuits

Etymology: "Dalliers" is the plural of "dallier," a noun formed simply by adding the agent suffix "-er" to "dally." The verb "dally" is the older part of the story: it has long meant to waste time, to idle, or to flirt without serious intent, and a dallier is one who does so. The suffix did most of the work in English. The "-er" ending descends from Old English "-ere," which attached to verbs to name the person who performs the action, so a baker bakes and a hunter hunts. Through Middle English "-er," it became a productive English ending, which is why we can coin a new "-er" noun whenever we need one, as with "dallier" here.

Synonyms: loiterers, dawdler, lingerers, procrastinators, slackers

Antonyms: hurryers, rushers, sprinters, quick movers, fast workers