Using setTimeOut, setInterval, or other means, to delay script execution

I have previously posted my Big Picture objective.  Here, I take a Big Step Back, to get a grip on this, in the simplest context I can think of [welcome advice from (try67)].  But I am hindered by perilous partial-understanding of scripting [enough rope to...].

I've reviewed the JavaScriptTM for Acrobat® API Reference.  I've scoured online references/suggestions/examples.  I've created a slew of test documents.  Almost without exception, they function 'dead in the water.'  I am missing some things basic, and fundamental.

I sense I get hung up on [despite awareness of need for precision]

• distinguishing Acrobat-oriented JavaScript from HTML/browser-oriented use
• syntax precision -- e.g. case sensitivity, quotation-marks-or-not, ...
• app-level [Acrobat] vs. document-level vs. page-level management

I've considered setTimeOut, and setInterval, all sorts of ways.  Here's what seems the simplest case [courtesy Thom Parker, 2008].  Upon a Button Event:

app.alert("Hello World", 3);

This works, as seen in the attachment.

But then, on a separate Buttion, I try to trigger the Alert as a parameter of setTimeOut:

// Utilize setTimeout ( expression, timeout );
//where expression is the JavaScript code to run after timeout milliseconds have elapsed.
//
setTimeout (app.alert("Hello World", 3), 2000 );

This fails, as seen in the attachment.

I can readily imagine that an entirely different approach is called for.  But I am at a loss for insight/instinct as to whether this demands a defined routine/function/variables/declarations, etc., in what order, etc.  I bet a number of you can see, at a glance, where I'm way off base.

Commentary most appreciated.