mindmap root((迟延)) tardy implies a lack of promptness or punctuality or a lateness that results from slowness in progress, or, more often, from delay in starting: made excuses for his ~ arrival. late usually stresses a failure to come or take place at the time due because of procrastination, slowness, or interference: he was ~ for work most mornings. behindhand applies to the situation of persons who have fallen into arrears or whose development, progress, or action is slower than normal: ~ in their mortgage payment. overdue may apply to what has become due but not been dealt with: an ~ library book; or what has been expected or scheduled but has not arrived: our guests are long ~; or what might logically have occurred or appeared long before: produced ~ tax reform.