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tarry1

[tar-ee]
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verb (used without object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
  1. to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn: He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.
  2. to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.
  3. to wait.
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verb (used with object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
  1. Archaic. to wait for.
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noun, plural tar·ries.
  1. a stay; sojourn.
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Origin of tarry1

1275–1325; Middle English taryen to delay, tary a delay < ?
Related formstar·ri·er, nounun·tar·ried, adjectiveun·tar·ry·ing, adjective

Synonyms

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1. rest, lodge, stop, abide. 3. See wait.

Antonyms

1. leave.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for tarried

Historical Examples

  • Oh, why had I tarried so long, losing so many precious minutes!

    Green Mansions

    W. H. Hudson

  • He was not wordy, and he tarried but a moment, yet he explained his paralysis.

    The Cavalier

    George Washington Cable

  • Having reached the gate, they tarried there for a few minutes.

    His Masterpiece

    Emile Zola

  • But Richard was away—he had been absent since yesterday, and none could tell her where he tarried.

    Mistress Wilding

    Rafael Sabatini

  • It was her turn to grow angry now, and well it was for him that he had not tarried.

    The Tavern Knight

    Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for tarried

tarry

verb -ries, -rying or -ried
  1. (intr) to delay in coming or going; linger
  2. (intr) to remain temporarily or briefly
  3. (intr) to wait or stay
  4. (tr) archaic, or poetic to await
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noun plural -ries
  1. rare a stay
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Derived Formstarrier, noun

Word Origin

C14 tarien, of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tarried

tarry

v.

early 14c., "to delay, retard," of uncertain origin. Some suggest a connection to Latin tardare "to delay," or Old English tergan "to vex, irritate." Intransitive meaning "to linger" is attested from late 14c.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper