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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

laches

American English · Video pronunciation

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:38
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What does laches mean?

noun

  1. Negligence in one's duty.
  2. An unreasonable delay in bringing a claim alleging a wrong, which means the person who waited shall not be permitted to seek an equitable remedy because the delay prejudiced the moving party.

proper noun

  1. A surname.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

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In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Paco.—‘Laches chibeses te diñele Undebel (May God grant you good days, brother).
George BorrowThe Zincali: An Account of the Gypsies of SpainProject Gutenberg ebook #565
He made no display of humility on the subject, but in his heart he felt rather ashamed that his conduct had shown laches which others who did not get benefices were free from.
George EliotMiddlemarchProject Gutenberg ebook #145
More book examples (2)
Immediately on taking them up, I cut them back so that only one or two laches of the green cane is left, and thus the roots are not taxed to sustain wood and foliage beyond their power.
Edward Payson RoeSuccess with Small FruitsProject Gutenberg ebook #6117
Of which kind of fighting the Turks still retain something in their practice of arms; and Socrates, in Plato, laughs at Laches, who had defined fortitude to be a standing firm in the ranks against the enemy.
Michel de MontaigneEssays of Michel de Montaigne — CompleteTranslated by Charles CottonProject Gutenberg ebook #3600